SoCon names football players of the week

Western Carolina, VMI and Mercer honored

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. 2. Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens was named the Offensive Player of the Week, VMI defensive back Shamus Jones was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Mercer placekicker Reice Griffith was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taron Dickens, R-Fr., QB, Western Carolina, Miami, Fla.

Dickens, making his first career start, completed 34-of-48 his pass attempts, finishing with 431 yards and five touchdowns in Western Carolina’s 38-34 comeback win over then No. 25/18 Chattanooga. The redshirt freshman also ran for a team-best 41 yards on 19 carries against the Mocs. The Miami, Florida, product’s touchdown passes came from 15, 32, 3, 11 and 8 yards out. Dickens was named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week on Monday for his performance. Western Carolina is now ranked No. 22 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.

Other nominees: Gino English (ETSU), Dwayne McGee (Mercer) and Ryan Ingram (Wofford)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Shamus Jones, Sr., DB, VMI, Chester, Va.

Jones recorded a game-high 13 tackles, a pass breakup, a blocked field goal and an interception as VMI defeated Furman, 21-17, on Saturday. The senior’s blocked field goal came in the first quarter with 6:01 on the clock, keeping the VMI lead at 7-0. The native of Chester, Virginia, logged his interception with 1:41 left in the game, effectively ending the contest to give the Keydets their first win of the season. . For the season, Jones is third on the team with 70.0 tackles and a team-high two interceptions.

Other nominees: Zach West (ETSU), TJ Moore (Mercer), Noah Martin (Samford), Ken Moore Jr. (Western Carolina) and Jalen Marshall (Wofford)

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reice Griffith, So., PK, Mercer, Pace, Fla.

Griffith accounted for 13 points in a 37-31 victory of ETSU on Saturday in a matchup of top 25 squads. The Paca, Florida, native converted on all four of his extra point tries, while going 3-for-3 on field goals for the Bears. The sophomore’s field goals were from 36, 36 and 31 yards out, with the final make coming with 97 seconds left in the game. Mercer is now ranked No. 13 in the AFCA poll and No. 10 in the Stats Perform polls.

Other nominees: Nate Brackett (ETSU), Will Thorley (Samford), Christian Lowery (Western Carolina) and Sam Spence (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

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

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