Junior Sherrill and Brenton Paul named Tri-Star CFB Co-Players of the Week
Tennessee State running back Brenton Paul (left) and Vanderbilt wide receiver Junior Sherrill (right) combined for five touchdowns in dramatic Week 3 victories, earning Tri-Star CFB Co-Player of the Week honors.
For the first time, the Tri-Star Network has named Co-College Football Players of the week.
Vanderbilt wide receiver Junior Sherrill and Tennessee State running back Brenton Paul share the honor following their dominant Week 3 performances.
Vanderbilt WR - Junior Sherrill
6 receptions | 108 yards | 2 touchdowns
Junior Sherrill played a major role in Vanderbilt’s improbable 35-31 victory over North Carolina State.
The senior receiver reeled in six passes for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging 18 yards per reception. His two scores accounted for Vanderbilt’s first and final offensive touchdowns of the afternoon.
Sherrill’s first touchdown came in the final seconds of the first half. The commodores trailed 17-0 with 12 seconds remaining when quarterback Jared Curtis found Sherrill in the back corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown.
His second came during the fourth quarter when Curtis connected with him on a 43-yard touchdown down the sideline, cutting Vanderbilt’s deficit to three points with just over six minutes remaining.
Vanderbilt’s final offensive possession ended with a Jared Curtis interception, seemingly ending the Commodores’ comeback bid. What followed can only be described as a modern-day Music City Miracle.
Rather than punting from deep in their own end zone, NC State attempted to run the final six seconds off the clock while intentionally giving up a safety. Vanderbilt edge rusher Miles Capers stripped quarterback CJ Bailey in the end zone, however, and Cayden Daniels recovered the fumble for the game-winning touchdown.
Junior Sherrill provided the offensive spark that allowed Vanderbilt to complete the largest comeback of the Clark Lea era and remain undefeated through the first quarter of its season.
Tennessee State RB - Brenton Paul
26 carries | 92 rushing yards | 4 receptions | 36 receiving yards | 3 touchdowns
Brenton Paul was the heart and soul of Tennessee States’ offense as the Tigers defeated historic rival Florida A&M, 29-26, to earn their first victory of the season.
The freshman tailback accounted for all three of Tennessee State’s offensive touchdowns. Paul carried the ball 26 times for 92 yards and one score while adding four receptions for 36 yards and two touchdowns.
Florida A&M opened the game by marching 63 yards on an eight-play touchdown drive. Tennessee State quickly responded with a scoring drive of its own that included 24 rushing yards from Paul before he finished the possession with a four-yard touchdown reception.
Paul recorded his second touchdown, his lone score on the ground, late in the second quarter. After a 63-yard completion from quarterback Daylin Lee to wide receiver Cam Bulluck, Paul punched the ball into the end zone from one yard out to give the Tigers a 13–7 lead.
His final touchdown came when Tennessee State needed him most.
Trailing 26–22 with 51 seconds remaining, Lee connected with Paul on a screen pass that the freshman took 20 yards for the game-winning score.
Paul’s breakout performance could not have come at a better time. His three touchdowns carried Tennessee State to its first victory of the season, extended the Tigers’ winning streak over Florida A&M to seven games, and earned him OVC Co-Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week honors.
There was simply no separating the two. Both delivered performances that directly fueled their teams’ dramatic victories.
For delivering when their teams needed them most, Junior Sherrill and Brenton Paul are the Tri-Star CFB Co-Players of the Week.