CAA Football has announced its weekly award winners for Week 7 of the 2023 season. Monmouth junior running back Jaden Shirden was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week, while Delaware graduate linebacker Jackson Taylor was honored as the Defensive Player of the Week. Monmouth junior kick returner TJ Speight was chosen as the Special Teams Player of the Week and Villanova freshman running back Isaiah Ragland was named the Rookie of the Week.

CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week

Jaden Shirden, Jr., RB, Monmouth (West Haven, Conn./Cheshire Academy)

Shirden rushed for 276 yards and a career-high four touchdowns on only 16 carries in Monmouth’s 61-10 win over Hampton. His 276 yards are the most by an FCS player this season and the second-most in school history. He had TD runs of 72, 63, 25 and 9 yards in the game and added a 52-yard burst. Shirden leads the CAA and ranks 3rd in FCS in rushing (135.3 ypg) for the season.

CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week

Jackson Taylor, Gr., LB, Delaware (Glenside, Pa./Abington Senior)

Taylor recorded a season-high 15 tackles, a sack and 4.0 tackles for loss as Delaware beat North Carolina A&T, 21-6. The 4.0 TFL’s were the 4th-most in school history and the most by a Blue Hen since the spring 2021 season. It was Taylor’s third straight game with 10+ stops. He was part of a dominant UD defense that limited A&T to 196 total yards and a pair of field goals.

CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week

TJ Speight, Jr., KR/WR, Monmouth (Fort Meade, Md./Meade)

Speight returned two kickoffs for 167 yards (83.5 ypr) and a touchdown as Monmouth defeated Hampton, 61-10. The junior opened the second half with a 98-yard return for a TD, which was the longest in school history. He also had a 69-yard return to the HU 16-yard line in the first quarter that set up a TD. It was Monmouth’s first KOR for a TD since 2019.

CAA Football Rookie of the Week

Isaiah Ragland, Fr., RB, Villanova (Alexandria, Va./Centreville)

Ragland ran for a career-high 126 yards on just 15 carries (8.4 ypc) in Villanova’s 21-0 victory over Elon. The freshman was part of a powerful Wildcats’ rushing attack that piled up 440 yards on the ground. Ragland entered the game with 35 rushing yards all season before his breakout performance against the Phoenix.