FRISCO, Texas – McNeese quarterback Jake Strong has been named this week's Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week the league office announced on Monday.
 
The honor marks the third this season for the sophomore from Justin, Texas, the most of any player in the league to garner a weekly award.
 
Defensive lineman Phillip Bradford, last week's defensive player of the week, garnered honorable mention honors this week.
 
Strong helped guide McNeese to a 35-20 road win over East Texas A&M this past Saturday, accounting for 307 total offensive yards and two touchdowns. He ran for a career-high 136 yards and a score – a 48-yard bolt up the middle midway through the third quarter – and completed 10 of 18 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, that being a 39-yard toss to Kameran Senegal for a first quarter score.
 
For the season, Strong is averaging 217.2 total offensive yards per game, third in the Southland Conference and 46^th nationally. He's second in the league and 48^th in the FCS with seven rushing TDs which ranks him eighth among quarterbacks.
 
Strong is second on the team in rushing with 439 total yards and a 43.9 average, and has rushed for 100 yards or more twice this season.
 
Bradford had another outstanding outing, recording 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and intercepted a pass, returning it 12 yards for a touchdown. It was the first pick-six for McNeese since the 2021 season.
 
The junior from Monroe leads the conference 13.5 tackles for a loss and third with 5.5 sacks.

McNeese will be back home on Saturday against UTRGV at 6 p.m. for the final home game of the season.