Brandon James

With two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and nine tackles, Brandon James of The College of Wooster kept the North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Week award in Wooster for a third consecutive week.

As a unit, the Fighting Scots' defense continued to show progress, coming away with four takeaways to up its season total to 26 – the most since the 2000 campaign (30) – and yielding a season-low 14 points during a 24-14 victory at Kenyon College.

Individually, James accounted for two of the turnovers as he now has an NCAC-leading five interceptions this year as well as 10 for his career, and by returning the second 17 yards for a touchdown, he gave Wooster what proved to be an insurmountable 10-point lead (24-14) early in the fourth quarter. James's nine tackles, 1.5 of which went for losses, pushed his season stops to a career-high 79, and he also had a pass breakup.

In addition to excelling on defense, James contributed a key play on special teams. The personal protector on punts took a direct snap and threw a shovel pass to Matt Osolinski that resulted in a 30-yard gain, as the Scots converted a 4th-and-8 from their own 41 en route to a touchdown late in the third quarter, which put them ahead by 10 for the first time (17-7).