COLLGEG PLAYERS OF THE WEEK NAMED. WEEK THREE PREVIEWED

BY ROCK HOFFMAN

College Football Editor

 Week two is complete for the 2026 college football season so, Football Stories in naming their Philadelphia-area College Football Players of the Week.

JEREMIAH AVRILIEN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Offensive Player of the Week –Jeremiah Avrilien, running back, Eastern University. The senior ran for a school-record 244 yards in the Eagles 27-21 win over Misericordia. He also scored three touchdowns as Eastern improved to 1-1. This week, they host Lebanon Valley College (0-2).

Defensive Player of the Week – Jackson Ferrante, linebacker, Rowan University. The senior had a team-high nine tackles plus half a sack in a dominating defensive effort by the Profs (1-1) in a 34-0 blanking of Moravian which was held to 17 yards on the ground. Rowan has a bye this weekend and returns to the field on September 26 when they host Lycoming.

JACKSON FERRANTE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Temple (1-1) lost to Penn State 27-9. The Owls go on the road for the first time in 2026 when they visit Toledo (1-1) on Saturday afternoon.

 Delaware (1-1) lost to Vanderbilt 35-26 after having a 17-14 halftime lead. They were the first group of six team to have a lead at the break against an SEC team in two years. This week, Coastal Carolina (1-1) visits Newark.

Villanova was tied with Louisville at three, midway through the first quarter, however, the Wildcats were outscored 56-10 the rest of the way to fall to 1-2. They look to get back in the win column on Saturday at LIU (0-3).

On Saturday, Penn opens their 150^th season of football and starts the Rick Santos era at Bucknell (1-2). The Quakers Ivy League rival, Princeton, is at Bryant (2-1).

 Delaware State ran for 224 yards as a team in a 21-6 toppling of Bowie State. This week, the Hornets (2-1) step up to face a 2-0 FBS-team in the University of South Florida.

West Chester lost in double overtime to a tough IUP team 27-21. The Golden Rams (1-1) visit Edinboro on Saturday.

Lincoln lost to Mississippi Valley State 31-20 in the HBCU Chicago Classic. The Lions (0-2) are at Shaw (2-1) this week.

Delaware Valley came from behind to edge Lebanon Valley College 18-17. This Saturday, the Aggies (1-1, 1-0 MAC) play at home for the first time in 2026 when Albright (2-0, 1-0 MAC) visits Doylestown.

Ursinus battered Waynesburg 46-10. The Bears (2-0) host Moravian (0-2) this Saturday.

Widener needed a late touchdown to defeat Alvernia 14-10. Saturday, the Pride (1-1,1-0 MAC) will go to FDU-Florham (0-2, 0-1 MAC).

TCNJ fell at Wilkes 28-8. This week, the Lions (0-2) are at Juniata (0-2), a team they beat 35-0 last season.