As key contributors to conference wins, Georgia State’s Darren Grainger, Georgia Southern’s Eldrick Robinson II and Arkansas State’s Blake Grupe earned Sun Belt weekly accolades.

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Darren Grainger, Georgia State
(RS Jr., QB – Conway, S.C.)

Panthers redshirt junior quarterback Darren Grainger returned to his hometown of Conway, S.C., and led Georgia State to a 42-40 victory over No. 22/21 Coastal Carolina. The win was the Panthers first-ever over a ranked opponent. Grainger completed 18-of-24 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 29 yards in the ground game. The signal-caller directed Georgia State on four 75-yard touchdown drive to help the Panthers snap Coastal Carolina’s 12-game home winning streak.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Eldrick Robinson II, Georgia Southern
(Fr., LB – Pensacola, Fla.)

Georgia Southern freshman linebacker Eldrick Robinson II tallied a career-high and team-high 12 tackles to lift the Eagles to a 38-30 win over Texas State. The victory was the fifth-straight in the series for the Eagles. Robinson II also added 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception in his most complete performance in a Georgia Southern uniform. The Pensacola, Fla., native paces the Eagle defense with two interceptions, while ranking second with 61.0 tackles and third with 6.0 tackles for loss on the season.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Blake Grupe, Arkansas State
(RS Jr., K – Sedalia, Mo.)

Arkansas State redshirt junior Blake Grupe snapped the program record for career field goals on a game-winning 42-yard kick with 1:17 remaining in the Red Wolves’ 27-24 win at ULM. The Sedalia, Mo., product connected on both of his field goal attempts and was 3-for-3 on extra points, contributing nine points in Arkansas State’s first Sun Belt Conference victory of the 2021 campaign. Grupe increased his career field goal total to 59 and career extra points tally to 159 to take over the top spot in the Red Wolves record book in both categories.

2021 Sun Belt Football Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State
Week 2 – Reese White, Coastal Carolina
Week 3 – Montrell Johnson, Louisiana
Week 4 – Nate Noel, App State
Week 5 – Logan Wright, Georgia Southern
Week 6 – Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
Week 7 – Jake Bentley, South Alabama
Week 8 – Chandler Rogers, ULM
Week 9 – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
Week 10 – Tyler Vitt, Texas State
Week 11 – Darren Grainger, Georgia State

2021 Sun Belt Football Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Zion Williams, Troy
Week 2 – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
Week 3 – Javon Solomon, Troy
Week 4 – Ja’Cquez Williams, ULM
Week 5 – D’Marco Jackson, App State
Week 6 – Sione Tupou, Texas State
Week 7 – Carlton Martial, Troy
Week 8 – Demetrius Taylor, App State
Week 9 – Trey Cobb, App State
Week 10 – Steven Jones, App State
Week 11 – Eldrick Robinson II, Georgia Southern

2021 Sun Belt Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Week 1 – Britton Williams, Georgia Southern
Week 2 – Diego Guajardo, South Alabama
Week 3 – Calum Sutherland, ULM
Week 4 – Alan Lamar, Arkansas State
Week 5 – Chris Smith, Louisiana
Week 6 – Brooks Buce, Troy
Week 7 – Calum Sutherland, ULM
Week 8 – Chandler Staton, App State
Week 9 – Alan Lamar, Arkansas State
Week 10 – Alex Spillum, Coastal Carolina
Week 11 – Blake Grupe, Arkansas State