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 Sept. 28. ETSU wide receiver Khamran Laborn was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Mercer defensive back Dainsus Miller was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Bears punter John McConnell was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Khamran Laborn, R-Jr., WR, ETSU, Norfolk, Va.
Laborn scored twice on just eight touches for ETSU as the Bucs defeated The Citadel, 34-17, on Saturday. The native of Norfolk, Virginia, ran for 117 yards on five carries, caught two passes for nine yards and had one kick return for 11 yards. The redshirt junior’s first touchdown came in the second quarter from 20 yards out, giving ETSU a 6-3 lead with 13:46 on the clock. Laborn’s next touchdown was a 40-yard scamper in the fourth quarter with 5:42 remaining. Laborn, who also had runs of 26 and 33 yards in the game, averaged 23.4 yards per rush in the contest. On Monday, ETSU was named the Stats Perform National Team of the Week and entered the top 25 of the Stats Perform poll at No. 23.

Other nominees: Hess Horne (Mercer) and Chase Artopoeus (Chattanooga)
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Dainsus Miller, Jr., DB, Mercer, Fairburn, Ga.
Miller anchored one of the nation’s top defenses over the weekend as Mercer topped then 23rd-ranked Wofford, 22-3, on Saturday in a matchup of top 25 teams. The junior logged a pair of solo stops and two interceptions. The Fairburn, Georgia, product’s first pick came in the endzone during the third quarter with 1:28 left, keeping the Bears ahead 8-3. Wofford began that drive inside the Bears’ 10-yard line. Miller’s second interception came in the fourth quarter with 12:30 remaining, which turned into a Mercer touchdown two plays later. Mercer is currently ranked third in total defense in the FCS (224.0 yds/game). The Bears are now ranked 11th in both AFCA and Stats Perform polls.

Other nominees: Nick Hunter (ETSU), Reuben Lowery III (Chattanooga) and Jalen Marshall (Wofford)
 

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: John McConnell, R-Jr., P, Mercer, Morgantown, W. Va.
McConnell, who also won the honor on Sept. 9, punted five times for Mercer in its win over Wofford. The native of Morgantown, West Virginia, averaged 45.4 yards per punt, pinning the Terriers inside the 20 on two occasions. Following the redshirt junior’s punts, Wofford’s average starting field position was the 19-yard line.

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

 
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

 
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