#ProJacks Report: Swift’s Hot Hitting Earns Player of the Week Recogntion, Finau Leads Tonga Past Scotland in Commonwealth Games
7/28/2026 11:24:00 AM | General
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Former Stephen F. Austin standout Julian Swift was recently named the Trenton Thunder's player of the week following an impressive five-game stretch in the MLB Draft League. He hit .444 on the week with eight hits, 13 total bases, five runs, five RBI and an OPS of 1.196.
Swift has played in 15 games this summer and is hitting .339 in 56 at bats. He has collected 19 hits with four doubles and a homer. The All-Southland honoree this past spring, Swift is responsible for 11 RBI and 13 runs scored.
Mele Finau, former Ladyjack women's basketball, is currently competing in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland with her native Tonga. Finau is competing alongside her sister Leslia in the women's 3x3 basketball competition. The duo opened the tournament by shocking host nation Scotland in a 12-10 win this past weekend.
The Dublin, California native played in 18 games for the Jacks, including nine starts for SFA. During the 2023-24 season, Finau scored 107 points off 91 field goal attempts and 21-three pointers. Finau also competed in the paint, grabbing 69 rebounds, and was a disruption to an opponent's offense with seven blocks and 10 steals.
Cody Templeton logged 10.2 innings over his last two outings for the Milwaukee Milkmen which includes a seven-strikeout effort against the Gary SouthShore RailCats on July 17. In 12 appearances in his first professional summer, the Buda, Texas native has totaled 35.2 innings with 33 strikeouts at 8.3 per nine. Templeton is back in his native Texas as the Milkmen meet East Division foe Cleburne Railroaders for a six-game series starting tonight through August 2.
Will Vest has appeared in 27 games for the Detroit Tigers this season with nine finishes, three wins and two saves with 27 strikeouts over 26.2 innings. Vest is currently on the 60-day IL rehabbing a stress fracture of the olecranon which is located at the tip of the forearm bone. He is confident that the non-surgery rehab will help him return sometime during the second half of the season. The Tigers are currently 50-57, six games back in the AL Central hunt and just 4.0 games back of the Wildcard as August looms.
Willie Jefferson has tallied five sacks and ten defensive tackles over seven games with Winnipeg in his 12th Canadian Football League season. More on Jefferson's impact in 2026. The Blue Bombers are currently 4-3 and third in the West Division. Week 9 action sees Winnipeg play host to British Columbia on July 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Josiah Cotton | Milan Rhinos | Italian Football League
Kevon Harris | Xinjiang Flying Tigers | Chinese Basketball Association
Qualan Jones | Toronto Argonauts of the CFL | Practice Squad
Thomas Walkup | Olympiacos of the GBL and EuroLeague | Offseason
READ: "I'm not the type of guy who questions authority, the coach or the team"
NFL TRAINING CAMPS OPEN LEAGUE-WIDE: Charles Demmings reported to Vikings training camp on July 26, while league veterans Xavier Gipson and John Franklin-Myers report to Giants and Titans training camps, respectively, on July 28. Follow sfajacks.com for more Pro Jacks training camp news as the 2026 NFL season draws near.
NFL SCHEDULE NOTES: The Vikings and Giants open preseason action on August 15 and Minnesota travels to New Orleans on October 11. The Titans and the Giants meet Week 3; Tennessee plays at Dallas on November 22 and will close out the regular season in Houston. The Giants make two trips to Texas, the first on October 25 for a Week 7 tilt at Houston and on January 3 against NFC East rival Dallas.
FULL 2026 SCHEDULES: VIKINGS | TITANS | GIANTS
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA athletics, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Swift has played in 15 games this summer and is hitting .339 in 56 at bats. He has collected 19 hits with four doubles and a homer. The All-Southland honoree this past spring, Swift is responsible for 11 RBI and 13 runs scored.
Mele Finau, former Ladyjack women's basketball, is currently competing in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland with her native Tonga. Finau is competing alongside her sister Leslia in the women's 3x3 basketball competition. The duo opened the tournament by shocking host nation Scotland in a 12-10 win this past weekend.
The Dublin, California native played in 18 games for the Jacks, including nine starts for SFA. During the 2023-24 season, Finau scored 107 points off 91 field goal attempts and 21-three pointers. Finau also competed in the paint, grabbing 69 rebounds, and was a disruption to an opponent's offense with seven blocks and 10 steals.
Cody Templeton logged 10.2 innings over his last two outings for the Milwaukee Milkmen which includes a seven-strikeout effort against the Gary SouthShore RailCats on July 17. In 12 appearances in his first professional summer, the Buda, Texas native has totaled 35.2 innings with 33 strikeouts at 8.3 per nine. Templeton is back in his native Texas as the Milkmen meet East Division foe Cleburne Railroaders for a six-game series starting tonight through August 2.
Will Vest has appeared in 27 games for the Detroit Tigers this season with nine finishes, three wins and two saves with 27 strikeouts over 26.2 innings. Vest is currently on the 60-day IL rehabbing a stress fracture of the olecranon which is located at the tip of the forearm bone. He is confident that the non-surgery rehab will help him return sometime during the second half of the season. The Tigers are currently 50-57, six games back in the AL Central hunt and just 4.0 games back of the Wildcard as August looms.
Willie Jefferson has tallied five sacks and ten defensive tackles over seven games with Winnipeg in his 12th Canadian Football League season. More on Jefferson's impact in 2026. The Blue Bombers are currently 4-3 and third in the West Division. Week 9 action sees Winnipeg play host to British Columbia on July 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Josiah Cotton | Milan Rhinos | Italian Football League
Kevon Harris | Xinjiang Flying Tigers | Chinese Basketball Association
Qualan Jones | Toronto Argonauts of the CFL | Practice Squad
Thomas Walkup | Olympiacos of the GBL and EuroLeague | Offseason
READ: "I'm not the type of guy who questions authority, the coach or the team"
NFL TRAINING CAMPS OPEN LEAGUE-WIDE: Charles Demmings reported to Vikings training camp on July 26, while league veterans Xavier Gipson and John Franklin-Myers report to Giants and Titans training camps, respectively, on July 28. Follow sfajacks.com for more Pro Jacks training camp news as the 2026 NFL season draws near.
NFL SCHEDULE NOTES: The Vikings and Giants open preseason action on August 15 and Minnesota travels to New Orleans on October 11. The Titans and the Giants meet Week 3; Tennessee plays at Dallas on November 22 and will close out the regular season in Houston. The Giants make two trips to Texas, the first on October 25 for a Week 7 tilt at Houston and on January 3 against NFC East rival Dallas.
FULL 2026 SCHEDULES: VIKINGS | TITANS | GIANTS
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA athletics, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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