Football | 9/29/2026 8:35:57 AM
Utica University sophomore cornerback
Tahjir Fernand was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for Week 4 of the 2026 Division III College Football season on Tuesday, Sept. 29. He becomes the seventh E8 student-athlete and third from Utica to be honored this season.
Fernand managed to rack up two pass breakups in addition to a key redzone interception that stopped a promising Alfred State drive in its tracks on Saturday. Fernand was also active near the line of scrimmage, grabbing six tackles, including four solo takedowns and a tackle for loss in a 58-13 win for the nationally-ranked Pioneers, as they improved to 4-0 on the season.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, FL and New Rochelle High School, Fernand has 17 tackles (11 solo), including 1.5 for loss to go along with a pair of pass breakups and an interception in 2026.
All eight E8 teams are in action on Saturday, Oct. 3, with four key league contests. Utica, ranked 21st in the current American Football Coaches Association poll and 22nd in the D3football.com poll, hosts SUNY Cortland, who is ranked 16th in the AFCA poll and 17th in D3football.com at 1 p.m. from Gaetano Stadium in a battle of 4-0 teams.
SUNY Morrisville hosts Alfred State, while Hartwick hosts Alfred University, both at noon. To close out the day, SUNY Brockport hosts unbeaten St. John Fisher University in Courage Bowl XXI from Bob Boozer Field at 6 p.m. The game benefits Camp Good Days and Special Times.
Here is the complete 2026 Empire 8 football schedule.
2026 Empire 8 D3football.com Team of the Week Recipients
Sept. 29 (Week 4) - Tahjir Fernand, So., CB, Utica University
Sept. 22 (Week 3) - Martin Flanders Jr., DE, Alfred University
Sept. 15 (Week 2) - Tyshawn Taylor, WR, Utica
Sept. 15 (Week 2) - Nazhier Wilson, LB, SUNY Brockport
Sept. 8 (Week 1) - Jack Bierman, LB, St. John Fisher
Sept. 8 (Week 1) - Noah Currier, RB, Alfred State
Sept. 8 (Week 1) - Logan Frederick, TE, Utica
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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