Through the last three years in the FCS, Tarik Cohen has consistently been one of the top players in the country. Cohen, a diminutive running back from North Carolina A&T, shared the 2014 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year award with Howard quarterback Greg McGhee.
The 5-foot-6, 173-pound Cohen made some big plays Saturday in the Aggies’ 24-14 win at home over Bethune-Cookman in a huge MEAC matchup in Greensboro, North Carolina. In the victory, Cohen scampered for a key 33-yard touchdown, tallying 116 yards on 20 carries for the game. He added five receptions for 29 yards, and earned ESPN.com HBCU Player of the Week honors.
“I said all along Tarik is a special-type talented player,” NC A&T head coach Rod Broadway said. “He’s definitely one of our best players and one of our toughest players. When the game is on the line, he’s the type of kid you want with the ball in his hands because he’ll make a play for you. That’s the horse we’re going to ride throughout the season. We’re going to give him the ball in those situations and see if he can make a play. He was able to make one against [Bethune] Cookman.”
Cohen’s effort certainly boosted the Aggies. With the victory, NC A&T (5-1 overall, 3-0 MEAC) now leads the conference and has garnered national attention in securing the No. 1 ranking in most of the HBCU football polls. The Aggies also moved to No. 24 in the STATS FCS Top 25 and the NCAA FCS Coaches polls.
Cohen has wasted little time establishing himself as a star in this league. He is on track to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the third consecutive season. So far, he has rushed for 646 yards on 137 carries. He averages 4.7 yards a carry, and the Aggies’ leading rusher has scored eight touchdowns.
In 2013, he led the MEAC in rushing with 1,148 yards as a freshman, picking up the conference’s Rookie of the Year honors. He followed that up with 1,340 yards and 15 TDs last season.
Much like Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles, Cohen’s style of play, size and quickness make him tough to tackle. He hits holes quickly and has some great moves in the open field. Those talents contribute to Cohen having amassed a career total of 3,632 yards rushing and receiving.
This weekend, NC A&T will host Howard (0-6, 0-4) for the Aggies’ homecoming. It’s foreseeable that Cohen could be a handful for the Bison. Then again, he’s been a handful for just about everybody.
MEAC Players of the Week: Florida A&M quarterback Carson Royal was chosen as the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week. He completed 14 of 31 passes for 229 yards, including three touchdowns, in a 41-13 win over Delaware State. He also had nine carries for 44 yards to help the Rattlers record their first win of the season.
Florida A&M defensive back John Boston and South Carolina State DB Chris Pauling were named the MEAC’s co-Defensive Players of the Week. Boston had 13 tackles, seven solo, and one sack. Pauling had two interceptions and returned one 42 yards for a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ win over Howard.
SWAC Players of the Week: With three TD passes and one rushing TD, Texas Southern QB Averion Hurts was named the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Tigers to a 49-21 win over Mississippi Valley State. He threw for 311 yards and completed 19 of 24 passes, adding 14 carries for 68 yards.
Alabama State linebacker Daerius Washington was the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week, with a game-high 12 tackles, nine solo, in the Hornets’ 31-24 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
More awards: Prairie View A&M running back and kick returner Johnta' Hebert was named the FCS Offensive Player of the Week. He posted his career-best performance with 398 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns as Prairie View A&M defeated Southern, 47-42, in a key SWAC contest. Hebert had 17 carries for 114 yards and two TDs while catching 10 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He returned five kickoffs for 114 yards.
Bethune-Cookman quarterback Quentin Williams was named to the College Football Performance Awards 2015 Mid-Season FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List. Williams, a 5-foot-11, 209-pound senior, leads the MEAC in pass efficiency with a 163.68 rating. He has completed 74 of 120 passes and has nine TDs. He averages 171.3 passing and 41.3 yards rushing per contest.
SBN Network Black College Football Poll
1.North Carolina A&T
2.Grambling State
3.Alcorn State
4.Prairie View A&M
5.Tuskegee
6.Bethune-Cookman
7.Southern
8.North Carolina Central
9.South Carolina State
10.Tennessee State
Heritage Sports Radio Network, LLC Division I FCS
1.North Carolina A&T
2.Grambling State
3.Alcorn State
4.Bethune-Cookman
5.South Carolina State
6.Prairie View A&M
7.Southern
8.Hampton
9.Tennessee State
10.North Carolina Central
Boxtorow HBCU Football Media Top 10 Poll
1.North Carolina A&T
2.Grambling State
3.Alcorn State
4.Bethune-Cookman
5.Tuskegee
6.South Carolina State
7.Prairie View A&M
8.Virginia Union
9.Southern
10.Bowie State