Weekly Honors Highlight Emerging Talent
The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) unveiled its first weekly football honors for the 2026 season, spotlighting exceptional play from across its member institutions.
Michael Zarfati of Rowan University earned Offensive Player of the Week after catching eight passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Mary Hardin‑Baylor, marking a career‑high performance.
Tyler Buxton from Vermont State‑Castleton was named Defensive Player of the Week for his seven tackles, 2.5 stops for loss and a 33‑yard fumble return touchdown that helped secure a 29‑7 win against Westfield State.
Josh Powell of Christopher Newport University received Special Teams Player of the Week honors after returning a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown and accumulating 105 total return yards in a 43‑14 triumph.
Freshman running back Sam Dech of The College of New Jersey was recognized as Offensive Rookie of the Week, carrying the ball 14 times for 65 yards and a score in his collegiate debut.
Sophomore cornerback Brayden Kelly of the same institution earned Defensive Rookie of the Week after intercepting a pass and returning it 33 yards for a touchdown, while also posting three tackles and a pass breakup.
The conference’s inaugural awards underscore the depth of talent across its four‑school lineup and set an early benchmark for performance as the 2026 season unfolds.