NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – The NAIA Office has announced recipients of this week’s National Players of the Week awards. Bethel’s own Jalen Sykes has been named the National Offensive Player of the Week.

Sykes, who earlier today was named KCAC Offensive Player of the Week, was the Threshers’ absolute workhorse during the game. He turned in a career high 330 yards rushing on 41 carries, good for an average of just under 8.1 yards per carry. To go along with his monstrous yardage production, Sykes was able to find the end zone on five different occasions, including a 52 yard run early in the game.

Sykes is now the season’s leading rusher in the KCAC with 904 yards. This is enough to put him at 4th in the NAIA in total rushing yardage. He is 1st in the NAIA in average rushing yards per game, having averaged 150.7 yards per game this season. He is also 7th in the nation in terms of all-purpose yards per game, sitting at 157 YPG.

Sykes hails from Bakersfield, California, and played for Bakersfield College before transferring to Bethel College.

Look for Sykes and Bethel to keep pushing the run game this Saturday against Southwestern, who’s defense on the season is allowing over 285 rushing yards per game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 PM right here at Joe W. Goering Field.