Stanley Absanon and Chris Kelly each picked up weekly OVC honors after the game against the University of Kentucky. Absanon was named as the OVC Specialist of the Week while Kelly was named OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Kelly, senior Linebacker from Cold Spring, Ky., had 11 tackles, half a sack and a quarterback hurry as Eastern Kentucky nearly topped FBS foe Kentucky, falling 34-27 in overtime. He was part of a defensive unit that limited the SEC Wildcats to just 55 rushing yards on 36 carries (1.5 ypc).
Absanon, senior defensive back from Auburndale, Fla., totaled 163 all-purpose yards (143 on returns) and set up three of Eastern Kentucky’s four touchdowns on the night. The senior returned five kickoffs for 127 yards (25.4 yards/return) including a 42-yarder to open the second half which led to EKU’s go-ahead touchdown. He also added a 19-yard punt return early in the fourth quarter to give the Colonels the ball on the Kentucky 26-yard line, which the team converted into another touchdown to take a 20-13 lead just five players later. On defense he added four tackles, an interception (which he returned for 22 yards to set up EKU’s first score of the night) and a pass breakup. Absanon ranks 19th nationally in punt returns (11.9 yards/return) and 30th in kickoff returns (26.3 yards/return).
