TSWA Named Tennessee College Players of the Week

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced top performers across state collegiate athletics.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Softball

TSWA Named Tennessee College Players of the Week

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Does receiving regional recognition for college sports players increase your interest in those local teams?

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association honored outstanding collegiate athletes for their recent performances. These awards recognize individual contributions across various sports, including football, soccer, and volleyball.

Why it matters

The recognition highlights the depth of athletic talent within Tennessee's college programs. These honors spotlight athletes who have significantly influenced their teams' outcomes in recent matchups.

Denver Harper recorded 196 all-purpose yards on six touches, while Samantha Wunsch tallied 30 kills, 15 digs, four aces, and four blocks across seven sets. Other notable stats include three goals each for Chris Douglas and Pope Scurlock.

The players

Tennessee Sports Writers Association

The organization is a Nashville-based collective that recognizes athletic achievements across state collegiate programs.

Denver Harper

He is a college football player who recently recorded 196 all-purpose yards for his team.

CJ Heard

He is a defensive player for Vanderbilt who forced two fumbles during the team's victory over Delaware.

Samantha Wunsch

She is a volleyball player recognized for recording 30 kills and 15 digs across seven sets.

The details

Denver Harper led the week's honors after a performance where he scored on a 72-yard pass, a 31-yard reception, and a 67-yard punt return. Meanwhile, CJ Heard bolstered Vanderbilt's defensive effort against Delaware with eight tackles, one pass breakup, and two forced fumbles, including one on a sack.

September 15, 2026: TSWA announced the players of the week.
2024: Jaden Barnes set a previous all-purpose yardage record.
November 10, 2018: Last time a Vanderbilt player forced two fumbles in a game.

Season Trajectory

These weekly honors establish the early competitive baseline for the 2026-27 academic year. By measuring current athlete performances against established historical records, the awards signal which programs are gaining momentum early in the season.

The recognition of athletes like CJ Heard highlights a significant defensive spark for Vanderbilt, which had not seen a two-forced-fumble performance since 2018. Samantha Wunsch's 30-kill output underscores the competitive edge required as teams face ranked opponents like North Carolina.

The takeaway

Recognizing top performers provides a lens into which players are driving team success early in the season. Fans can track these weekly honorees to identify the athletes most likely to make significant impacts during postseason play.