SoCon names football players of the week

ETSU, Mercer and Chattanooga 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 Oct. 12. ETSU wide receiver AJ Johnson was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Mercer defensive back TJ Moore was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Chattanooga place kicker Jude Kelley was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: AJ Johnson, R-So., WR, ETSU, New Orleans, La.

Johnson had the best outing of his collegiate career in ETSU’s 31-28 win over Samford on Saturday, finishing with seven catches for a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore’s 146 yards receiving yards were the most by any Bucs receiver since 2015. The product of New Orleans, Louisiana, caught his first touchdown in the second quarter from 15 yards out, making the score 21-14 in favor of Samford. Johnson’s second touchdown catch was a 75-yard score in the third quarter with 6:54 on the clock, which was the longest pass play for ETSU this season. ETSU is now ranked No. 23 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.

Other nominees: Dwayne McGee (Mercer), Quincy Crittendon (Samford), Javin Whatley (Chattanooga), Jalynn Williams (Western Carolina) and Rickie Shaw (Wofford)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: TJ Moore, Sr., DB, Mercer, Riverdale, Ga.

Moore, who also won the honor on Sept. 23, set a school record for interceptions in a game as Mercer defeated Princeton, 34-7, on Saturday. The senior had three interceptions in the contest along with a tackle for the Bears. The first interception came in the second quarter and the second came in the third quarter. The Riverdale, Georgia, native caught the record-breaking pick with 10:44 left in the game, which he returned 21 yards to the Princeton 44-yard line. With his three interceptions, Moore became the first player in the SoCon to catch three picks in a game since Samford’s Josh Kimberlin had three against Florida A&M on Sept. 14, 2013. Mercer is now ranked No. 7 in the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls.

Other nominees: Zach West (ETSU), Jalik Yancey (Samford), Chris Victor (Chattanooga), Shamus Jones (VMI), Curtis Fann Jr. (Western Carolina) and Jalen Marshall (Wofford)

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jude Kelley, R-Jr., PK, Chattanooga, Acworth, Ga.

Kelley accounted for a season-high 11 points in Chattanooga’s 41-10 road victory at Furman on Saturday. The redshirt junior kicker converted on all five of his extra point tries, while also making a pair of field goals for the Mocs. The native of Acworth, Georgia, made his two field goals in the second quarter from 42 and 24 yards. On kickoffs, Kelley logged two touchbacks during the contest. Chattanooga is now ranked No. 19 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.

Other nominees: Xavier Gaillardetz (ETSU), Brayden Smith (Mercer), Jonathan Hunter-Horton (VMI) and Paxton Robertson (Western Carolina)

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

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

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