Jacksonville State coach Grass, QB Jenkins take 2 OVC awards

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (AP) Top-ranked Jacksonville State has taken two of the four Ohio Valley Conference awards with John Grass the coach of the year and

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (AP) Top-ranked Jacksonville State has taken two of the four Ohio Valley Conference awards with John Grass the coach of the year and quarterback Eli Jenkins the offensive player of the year.

The OVC announced the awards Tuesday.

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Jacksonville State (10-1) repeated as OVC champs and is the top-ranked FCS squad. Grass is the first coach to begin his career 16-0 in OVC play. Jenkins is one of 12 Gamecocks on the All-OVC first team. He threw for 18 touchdowns and 2,185 yards and ran for 640 yards and eight TDs.

Tackle Dino Fanti of Eastern Illinois and end Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky are co-defensive players of the year, the first time it's been split since 1987 and only the second time overall.

Quarterback Dante Vandeven of Southeast Missouri is the freshman of the year.