SoCon names football players of the week

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference Football Players of the Week presented by Southern Recognition were awarded for all games played on Nov. 9. Mercer wide receiver Parker Wroble was named the Offensive Player of the Week, ETSU linebacker Zach West was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Buccaneers placekicker Ewan Johnson was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Parker Wroble, Sr., WR, Mercer, Hoschton, Ga.

Wroble caught three passes for a career-high 102 yards and had a rush for 15 yards as Mercer shutout VMI, 34-0, on Saturday. The senior scored in the third quarter from 69 yards out and in the fourth quarter from 28 yards out. The native of Hoschton, Georgia, has four receiving touchdowns this season, which is tied for second on the Bears. Mercer is now ranked No. 9 in the AFCA poll and No. 7 in the Stats Perform poll.

Other nominees: Devontae Houston (ETSU), Justis Durant (Chattanooga) and Ryan Ingram (Wofford)

 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Zach West, R-Sr., LB, ETSU, Boone, N.C.

West recorded eight tackles, including a career-high 3.5 sacks, in ETSU’s win over then-22nd ranked Western Carolina on Saturday. The redshirt senior also forced a fumble and recovered another during the contest. The Boone, North Carolina, native's 3.5 sacks were tied for the third-most ever by a Buc and the most by an ETSU player over the past three seasons. West currently leads the SoCon in sacks (8.5). ETSU is now ranked No. 21 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.

Other nominees: Ken Standley (Mercer), Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga) and Anthonie Lattany (Wofford)
 

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ewan Johnson, R-So., K, ETSU, Knoxville, Tenn.

Johnson, who also won the honor on Sept. 23, went a perfect 4-for-4 on his kick attempts against Western Carolina. The redshirt sophomore converted all three of his extra point tries and hit a 40-yard field goal in the first quarter to score the game’s first points. The product of Knoxville, Tennessee, also handled kickoff duties for the Buccaneers, logging two touchbacks on his five attempts.

Other nominees: Reice Griffith (Mercer) and Devery Cagle (Wofford)

2024 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 2             DJ Smith, Jr., QB, Mercer
Sept. 9             Amari Odom, R-Fr., QB, Wofford

Sept. 16            Trey Hedden, Fr., QB, Furman

Sept. 23            DJ Smith, Jr., QB, Mercer

Sept. 30            Khamran Laborn, R-Jr., WR, ETSU

Oct.7                Sam Phillips, R-Jr., WR, Chattanooga

Oct.14              AJ Johnson, R-So., WR, ETSU

Oct. 21             Cole Gonzales, Jr., QB, Western Carolina

Oct. 28             Dwayne McGee, Sr., RB, Mercer

Nov. 4              Taron Dickens, R-Fr., QB, Western Carolina

Nov. 11             Parker Wroble, Sr., WR, Mercer

 
Defensive
Sept. 2             Jalen Marshall, Jr., LB, Wofford
Sept. 9             Amir Annoor, Sr., DB, Wofford

Sept. 16            CJ Coombes, R-Fr., DB, Wofford

Sept. 23            TJ Moore, Sr., DB, Mercer

Sept. 30            Dainsus Miller, Jr., DB, Mercer

Oct. 7               David Powers, Sr., LB, Wofford

Oct. 14             TJ Moore, Sr., DB, Mercer

Oct. 21             Noah Martin, Gr., LB, Samford

Oct. 28             Brayden Manley, So., DL, Mercer

Nov. 4              Shamus Jones, Sr., DB, VMI

Nov. 11             Zach West, R-Sr., LB, ETSU

 
Special teams
Sept. 2             Brayden Smith, So., WR, Mercer

Sept. 9             John McConnell, R-Jr., P, Mercer

Sept. 16            Ian Williams, R-Sr., PK, Furman

Sept. 23            Ewan Johnson, R-So., K, ETSU

Sept. 30            John McConnell, R-Jr., P, Mercer

Oct. 7               Nate Brackett, R-Jr., P, ETSU

Oct. 14             Jude Kelley, R-Jr., PK, Chattanooga

Oct. 21             Jude Kelley, R-Jr., PK, Chattanooga

Oct. 28             James Platte, Gr., P, The Citadel

Nov. 4              Reice Griffith, So., PK, Mercer

Nov. 11             Ewan Johnson, R-So., K, ETSU