NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association has announced the first College Players of the Week for the 2026-27 academic year on Tuesday afternoon.
FOOTBALL: Austin Peay’s Chris Parson and Elijah Kinsler from Memphis were recognized as the TSWA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.
Parson completed 14-of-21 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown to defeat Gardner-Webb 35-17 on Thursday.
Including a 53-yard pass that helped the Govs take a 14-10 lead in the second quarter, he added a 49-yard strike to Denver Harper for the score on their next possession to go up 21-10.
Adding a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, he was a part of 339 all-purpose yards in the Week 0 win.
Kinsler recorded 2.5 sacks to help Memphis take down UNLV 27-21 in Las Vegas. Totaling 20 yards for loss, he sacked the Rebels quarterback Jackson Arnold for an 11-yard loss late in the game.
Finishing the contest with eight tackles, including six solo stops, he contributed to a Tigers’ defense that totaled six sacks and 11 tackles for a loss.
MEN’S SOCCER: Lincoln Memorial’s Hays Adams earned the Men’s Soccer Player of the Week honors after scoring twice in the team’s 3-1 victory over Nova Southeastern. He tallied an early goal in the 22nd minute and an insurance goal in the 79th minute to earn the road win.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: Lincoln Memorial’s Donna van der Zalm garnered the Women’s Soccer Player of the Week honor after a two-goal performance in their contest against Columbus State. After equalizing the match early thanks to a 25th minute penalty kick, she added a 53rd minute goal in the team’s opening weekend of competition.
VOLLEYBALL: University of Memphis outside hitter Caitlyn Little was named the Volleyball Player of the Week after 58.5 points on 49 kills and six aces and blocks each. After a 13-kill performance at Lipscomb and a 10-kill effort at Vanderbilt, the senior contributed career highs of 26 kills and four aces and added 18 digs against Charleston.
2026 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1 | Chris Parson, Austin Peay (Offense); Elijah Kinsler, Memphis (Defense)
2026 TSWA MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1 | Hays Adams, Lincoln Memorial
2026 TSWA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1 | Donna van der Zalm, Lincoln Memorial
2026 TSWA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1 | Caitlyn Little, Memphis
