Iowa State’s Malik Verdon, a Hamilton alum, wins local college football player of the week

Voting has closed on another week of The Enquirer’s local college football players of the week award, and our readers selected a second-time winner.

In the Division I category, Malik Verdon takes home honors with more than 44% of the vote. There was no small school category this week, because Division II and Division III football entering playoffs caused a shortage of candidates.

Verdon was all over the field as No. 22 Iowa State survived a tough challenge from Utah to win 31-28 last Saturday. The Hamilton graduate led the Cyclones with 12 tackles and added a sack.

Verdon played two seasons at Moeller before transferring to Hamilton for his senior year. He leads Iowa State with 74 tackles, and he’s also recorded a sack, five passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble.

Previous winners

Previous winners from this season in the Division I category:

DB Josh Fussell, Northwestern (Lakota West)

DB Jaydan Mayes, Army (Fairfield)

LB Jaheim Thomas, Wisconsin (Princeton)

LB Joey Stemler, Ball State (Elder)

DB Malik Verdon, Iowa State (Hamilton)

LB Grant Lyons, Miami-Ohio (St. Xavier)

TE Max Klare, Purdue (St. Xavier)

RB Corey Kiner, Cincinnati (Roger Bacon)

LB Daniel Bolden, Toledo (Colerain)

Winners this season in the small school category:

RB Kai Smith, Wilmington College (Shroder)

RB Ty’aris Stevenson, Ashland (Withrow)

WR Eli Aston, Mount St. Joseph (East Central)

DL Brady Buller, Mount St. Joseph (Elder)

QB J.J. Miller, Wittenberg (Williamsburg)

QB Matthew Rueve, Findlay (St. Xavier)

QB J.J. Miller, Wittenberg (Williamsburg)

QB Tyler Prather, Mount St. Joseph (Colerain)

K Lucas Swierk, Wittenberg (Little Miami)

Want to nominate a player for a future week? Email jschmelzinger@gannett.com.