RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference has announced its weekly football honors and making the list was junior defensive back Melvin Smith Jr for Defensive Player of the Week. The Bossier City, Louisiana native has officially earned his first GAC honor since joining the Muleriders as freshman in 2020.
 
Smith picked off a Dexter Brown pass along the southeast side of the endzone and zipped down the opposing sideline with just under three minutes remaining before the final quarter of action to give Southern Arkansas a 24-3 lead. The effort is an NCAA-best and is the first such return by a Mulerider, besting the previous long interception return of 95 yards by Russ Phillips against Midwestern State in 1994. The return marked just the seventh-time a GAC player has performed the feat.
 
With Smith earning the title, this is the first season eh Muleriders have recorded two defensive backs as GAC defensive player of the week in the same season. The last time two defensive players were awarded the honor came in 2021 when Gavin Roe and Brock Floyd each secured the honor in separate weeks.
 
The Bayou State native and his defense look to keep the same dominant effort this next Saturday as they prepare for their longest trip of the season as Week 10 sends Southern Arkansas to Alva, Oklahoma for a 2 p.m. kickoff against Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Muleriders and the Rangers meet for the 13th time with SAU holding a 10-2 lead in the series and having won the previous four matchups. SAU aims for its eighth victory of the season which would mark the 19th campaign in program history with at least eight wins. Live coverage links are available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.