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SoCon names football players of the week
VMI and Samford honored
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Nov. 18. VMI running back Hunter Rice was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Keydets defensive back Evan Eller was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Samford wide receiver Chandler Smith was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hunter Rice, Jr., RB, VMI, Daleville, Va.
Rice rushed for 138 yards on 21 carries as VMI upset then 14th-ranked Western Carolina, 27-24, on Saturday. The junior scored a career-high four touchdowns, two coming from seven yards out and the others coming from 63 and 1 yard out. Rice’s performance was his fourth 100-yard game of the season, all of which came in conference contests. The native of Daleville, Virginia, finished the regular season first in the SoCon in rushing touchdowns (14) and third in rushing yards (867).
Other nominees: Graeson Underwood (The Citadel), Trey Foster (ETSU), Jay Stanton (Samford), Gino Appleberry (Chattanooga), Desmond Reid (Western Carolina) and Ryan Ingram (Wofford)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Evan Eller, Sr., DB, VMI, Roanoke, Va.
Eller capped his VMI career with a game-high 16 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception for the Keydets on Saturday. The Roanoke, Virginia, product forced a fumble in the second quarter, however, the ball was not recovered as it traveled out of bounds. The senior’s interception, the first of his career, came with 3:25 left in the third quarter, which he returned 28 yards to the Western Carolina 30-yard line. VMI scored a touchdown eight plays later to go ahead 27-10 in the opening moments of the fourth quarter. Eller completed the season second in the SoCon in tackles (107).
Other nominees: Zach West (ETSU), Noah Martin (Samford), Josh Battle (Chattanooga), Andreas Keaton (Western Carolina) and David Powers (Wofford)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chandler Smith, Gr., WR, Samford, Windermere, Fla.
Smith had 197 all-purpose yards as Samford topped then 13th-ranked UT Martin, 27-17, on Saturday. The Windermere, Florida, native had 111 punt return yards, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown in the first quarter. The graduate student also had eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. Smith’s punt return touchdown was the first punt return score for Samford since the 2021 season.
Other nominees: Colby Kintner (The Citadel), Sheldon Arnold II (ETSU), Clayton Crile (Chattanooga), Jack Culbreath (VMI) and Richard McCollum (Western Carolina)
2023 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 4 Michael Hiers, Gr., QB, Samford
Sept. 11 Desmond Reid, So., RB, Western Carolina
Sept. 18 Tyler Huff, Gr., QB, Furman
Sept. 25 Cole Gonzales, So., QB, Western Carolina
Oct. 2 Desmond Reid, So., RB, Western Carolina
Oct. 9 Javin Whatley, So., WR, Chattanooga
Oct. 16 Tyler Huff, Gr., QB, Furman
Oct. 23 Jay Stanton, Sr., RB, Samford
Oct. 30 Carter Peevy, R-So., QB, Mercer
Nov. 6 Carson Jones, R-Fr., QB, Furman
Nov. 13 Cole Gonzales, So., QB, Western Carolina
Nov. 20 Hunter Rice, Jr., RB, VMI
Defensive
Sept. 4 Alex Oliver, Sr., DB, VMI
Sept. 11 Jordan Walker, R-So., DB, Chattanooga
Sept. 18 Kourtlan Marsh, Jr., DB, Samford
Sept. 25 Alex Mitchell, So., LB, Chattanooga
Oct. 2 Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., DB, ETSU
Oct. 9 Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., DB, ETSU
Oct. 16 Jay Person, Sr., EDGE, Chattanooga
Oct. 23 Evan DiMaggio, Jr., ILB, Furman
Oct. 30 Kobe Jospeh, Jr., LB, Chattanooga
Nov. 6 Ken Standley, Jr., LB Mercer
Nov. 13 Luke Clark, R-Jr., DE, Furman
Nov. 20 Evan Eller, Sr., DB, VMI
Special teams
Sept. 4 Atkins Roberts, Sr., P, Wofford
Sept. 11 Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer
Sept. 18 Jude Kelley, Jr., K, Chattanooga
Sept. 25 Jack Culbreath, Sr., P, VMI
Oct. 2 Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer
Oct. 9 Richard McCollum, Gr., PK, Western Carolina
Oct. 16 Clayton Crile, Sr., P/K, Chattanooga
Oct. 23 Jack Culbreath, Sr., P, VMI
Oct. 30 Ian Williams, Jr., K, Furman
Nov. 6 Wayne Anderson Jr, Gr., RB, Furman
Nov. 13 Richard McCollum, Gr., PK, Western Carolina
Nov. 20 Chandler Smith, Gr., WR, Samford
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hunter Rice, Jr., RB, VMI, Daleville, Va.
Rice rushed for 138 yards on 21 carries as VMI upset then 14th-ranked Western Carolina, 27-24, on Saturday. The junior scored a career-high four touchdowns, two coming from seven yards out and the others coming from 63 and 1 yard out. Rice’s performance was his fourth 100-yard game of the season, all of which came in conference contests. The native of Daleville, Virginia, finished the regular season first in the SoCon in rushing touchdowns (14) and third in rushing yards (867).
Other nominees: Graeson Underwood (The Citadel), Trey Foster (ETSU), Jay Stanton (Samford), Gino Appleberry (Chattanooga), Desmond Reid (Western Carolina) and Ryan Ingram (Wofford)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Evan Eller, Sr., DB, VMI, Roanoke, Va.
Eller capped his VMI career with a game-high 16 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception for the Keydets on Saturday. The Roanoke, Virginia, product forced a fumble in the second quarter, however, the ball was not recovered as it traveled out of bounds. The senior’s interception, the first of his career, came with 3:25 left in the third quarter, which he returned 28 yards to the Western Carolina 30-yard line. VMI scored a touchdown eight plays later to go ahead 27-10 in the opening moments of the fourth quarter. Eller completed the season second in the SoCon in tackles (107).
Other nominees: Zach West (ETSU), Noah Martin (Samford), Josh Battle (Chattanooga), Andreas Keaton (Western Carolina) and David Powers (Wofford)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chandler Smith, Gr., WR, Samford, Windermere, Fla.
Smith had 197 all-purpose yards as Samford topped then 13th-ranked UT Martin, 27-17, on Saturday. The Windermere, Florida, native had 111 punt return yards, including a 90-yard return for a touchdown in the first quarter. The graduate student also had eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. Smith’s punt return touchdown was the first punt return score for Samford since the 2021 season.
Other nominees: Colby Kintner (The Citadel), Sheldon Arnold II (ETSU), Clayton Crile (Chattanooga), Jack Culbreath (VMI) and Richard McCollum (Western Carolina)
2023 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 4 Michael Hiers, Gr., QB, Samford
Sept. 11 Desmond Reid, So., RB, Western Carolina
Sept. 18 Tyler Huff, Gr., QB, Furman
Sept. 25 Cole Gonzales, So., QB, Western Carolina
Oct. 2 Desmond Reid, So., RB, Western Carolina
Oct. 9 Javin Whatley, So., WR, Chattanooga
Oct. 16 Tyler Huff, Gr., QB, Furman
Oct. 23 Jay Stanton, Sr., RB, Samford
Oct. 30 Carter Peevy, R-So., QB, Mercer
Nov. 6 Carson Jones, R-Fr., QB, Furman
Nov. 13 Cole Gonzales, So., QB, Western Carolina
Nov. 20 Hunter Rice, Jr., RB, VMI
Defensive
Sept. 4 Alex Oliver, Sr., DB, VMI
Sept. 11 Jordan Walker, R-So., DB, Chattanooga
Sept. 18 Kourtlan Marsh, Jr., DB, Samford
Sept. 25 Alex Mitchell, So., LB, Chattanooga
Oct. 2 Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., DB, ETSU
Oct. 9 Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., DB, ETSU
Oct. 16 Jay Person, Sr., EDGE, Chattanooga
Oct. 23 Evan DiMaggio, Jr., ILB, Furman
Oct. 30 Kobe Jospeh, Jr., LB, Chattanooga
Nov. 6 Ken Standley, Jr., LB Mercer
Nov. 13 Luke Clark, R-Jr., DE, Furman
Nov. 20 Evan Eller, Sr., DB, VMI
Special teams
Sept. 4 Atkins Roberts, Sr., P, Wofford
Sept. 11 Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer
Sept. 18 Jude Kelley, Jr., K, Chattanooga
Sept. 25 Jack Culbreath, Sr., P, VMI
Oct. 2 Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer
Oct. 9 Richard McCollum, Gr., PK, Western Carolina
Oct. 16 Clayton Crile, Sr., P/K, Chattanooga
Oct. 23 Jack Culbreath, Sr., P, VMI
Oct. 30 Ian Williams, Jr., K, Furman
Nov. 6 Wayne Anderson Jr, Gr., RB, Furman
Nov. 13 Richard McCollum, Gr., PK, Western Carolina
Nov. 20 Chandler Smith, Gr., WR, Samford