TSWA announces college players of the week – Oct. 20 — Tennessee Sports Writers Association

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association has announced the week of Oct. 20 College Players of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.

FOOTBALL: Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop was selected as the TSWA Football Offensive Player of the Week after running all over Alabama’s defense in the Volunteers’ 26-10 win over the then No. 6 Crimson Tide to improve to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

Totaling 159 yards on the ground with two scores, he eclipsed 100 yards for the third straight game. 95 of his yards came in the second half, including a 5-yard score with 5:05 left in the third quarter to give UT the 19-10 lead.

In the fourth quarter, he capped a historic, 15-play, 72-yard drive with a five-yard score that took 9:32 off the clock.

For the game, the Vols’ running game exceeded the Crimson Tide’s average of 99.8 yards per game with 150 on 41 carries to help them pick up the Third Saturday in October victory.

Maryville’s Jacquese Abner earned the TSWA Football Defensive Player of the Week honor after two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, a pass breakup and three tackles in the Scots’ 16-12 road victory at then No. 6 Trinity (Texas) to keep their unbeaten streak alive in the Southern Athletic Association at 4-0 and improve the team’s overall record to 4-3.

Down 9-6 late in the third quarter, Abner returned an interception 55 yards to the house to help give the Scots the lead for good over the Tigers.

Totaling 62 return yards, he also had a pick from midfield on a third down, as his defense forced five turnovers.

MEN’S SOCCER: Chris Douglas from Trevecca Nazarene continues to rewrite the program’s men’s soccer record book as he was bestowed the TSWA Men’s Soccer Player of the Week accolade, as the Trojans used back-to-back clean sheets over Spring Hill and Auburn Montgomery to improve to 11-1-2 overall and 6-1-2 in the Gulf South Conference.

Over the week, Douglas totaled five goals and an assist to make him the program’s career goals leader in its NCAA Division II era.

Against Spring Hill on Oct. 14, he tallied his second hat trick of the season with the team’s first goal of the match in the 43rd minute, followed by strikes in the 67th and 78th minutes to defeat the Badgers by a 4-0 score.

Three days later against AUM, he was a part of all TNU’s goals in a 3-0 shutout. After assisting on the first goal in the seventh minute, he picked up his third brace of the season with goals in the 48th and 89th minutes.

Douglas continues to lead all of Division II in goals per game (1.25) and points per game (2.92).

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee’s Pope Scurlock was chosen as the TSWA Women’s Soccer Player of the Week following her efforts against Maryville on Oct. 14, as the Tigers are at 6-3-3 overall and 2-1-1 in the Southern Athletic Association.

Tied at one goal apiece, she scored the essential game-winner in the 49th minute and added a first half goal.

Scurlock continues to lead the Tigers in scoring with seven goals and 15 points and is in the top 10 in the SAA in both categories.

VOLLEYBALL: Trevecca Nazarene’s Katilyn Grant was honored as the TSWA Volleyball Player of the Week after averaging 3.9 kills and a .352 attack percentage over three matches, committing just eight attack errors in 88 attempts.

Achieving double figures in all three matches in the kill department, she posted 16 on a .371 attack percentage at Alabama Huntsville before adding 13 versus Valdosta State. To close out the week, she totaled 10 against Auburn Montgomery.

In 2026, Grant has posted a .322 attack percentage with 157 kills, 3.02 per set, and 178.0 points, 3.42 per set.

2026 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1 | Chris Parson, Austin Peay (Offense); Elijah Kinsler, Memphis (Defense)
Sept. 9 | Jaylin Carter, Memphis (Offense); Xavier Gilliam, Tennessee (Defense)
Sept. 15 | Denver Harper, Austin Peay (Offense); CJ Heard, Vanderbilt (Defense)
Sept. 22 | Junior Sherrill, Vanderbilt (Offense); Malik Denkins, Austin Peay (Defense)
Sept. 29 | Jax Leatherwood, Tennessee Tech (Offense); Zion Rutledge, Chattanooga (Defense)
Oct. 6 | DeSean Bishop, Tennessee (Offense); Dejuan Lane, Tennessee (Defense)
Oct. 13 | Josh Adams, Carson-Newman (Offense); Knox Kremblas, Maryville College (Defense)
Oct. 20 | DeSean Bishop, Tennessee (Offense); Jacquese Abner, Maryville College (Defense)