KANSAS CITY, Mo. -  Sam Tumilty of St. Francis (Ill.) has been named the NAIA Football Offensive Player of the Week. Nehemiah Figueroa of McPherson (Kan.) has been named the NAIA Football Defensive Player of the Week. Emery Bryant of Point (Ga.) has been named the NAIA Football Special Teams Player of the Week.  The trio was selected based on their performances from August 28 - September 3 and were chosen out of a pool of conference/Continental Athletic Conference (Independents)/unafilliated group nominees. 

Players of the Week are announced weekly throughout the regular-season on Tuesdays on naia.org, Instagram and Twitter.

Twitter - @NAIA
Instagram - @PlayNAIA

NAIA Football Offensive Player of the Week

Sam Tumilty, St. Francis (Ill.) - JR - Quarterback

• Recorded four rushing and four passing touchdowns
• Led the team in rushing on 15 carries for 139 yards
• Set a personal record with his four TD passes, completing 16-of-20 passes for 191 yards

NAIA Football Defensive Player of the Week

Nehemiah Figueroa, McPherson (Kan.) - JR - Defensive Back

• Intercepted two passes and returned them for a combined 85 yards
• recorded first career fumble recovery in comeback win over Sterling (Kan.) 
• Figueroa leads the NAIA with three interceptions so far this season

NAIA Football Special Teams Player of the Week

Emery Bryant, Point (Ga.) - SR - Wide Receiver/Returner

• Returned a 94-yard kick off for a touchdown
• Added 166 total yards on the return team
• Bryant recorded his second kickoff return in AAC history

For a full archive of the 2023 NAIA Football Players of the Week, click HERE