Wilson Joins ASU Trio for Weekly Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference named its football players of the week today for the games played on Saturday, Oct. 17. Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards was named Offensive Player of the Week while the Mountaineers’ Mark LeGree earned Defensive Player of the Week honors. Western Carolina’s Dion Wilson was selected as the Freshman of the Week, and Appalachian State’s Jason Vitaris was tabbed as the Special Teams Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Sr., QB

Edwards led ASU back from a 14-point second-half deficit with a season-high 415 yards and two touchdowns while also adding a score on the ground. The 400-yard passing performance was the second of his career and seventh in school history. Edwards’ 415 passing yards are the second-most in school history, and with his effort he overtook Elon QB Scott Riddle for the top spot on the SoCon’s all-time passing chart. The 2008 Walter Payton Award winner completed 79.4 percent of his passes and ranks second nationally this season with a 71.7-percent completion percentage.

Other Nominees: Jordan Sorrells (Furman), Adam Urbano (Georgia Southern), B.J. Coleman (Chattanooga), Dustin Taliaferro (Samford), Mike Rucker (Wofford) and Dion Wilson (Western Carolina).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mark LeGree, Appalachian State, Jr., DB

LeGree picked off a pair of passes in ASU’s 44-34 comeback win at Wofford. Trailing 34-20 midway through the third quarter, LeGree intercepted a pass at the ASU 12 to squelch a potential Wofford scoring drive. His second interception, with 20 seconds remaining, ended any hopes of a Wofford comeback. The first two interceptions of the season for LeGree, they pushed his career total to 12, which moved him into a tie for third place among active FCS players.

Other Nominees: Ryan Steed (Furman), Chris Collins (Western Carolina), Dion DuBose (Georgia Southern), John Michael Clay (Samford), Joseph Thornton (Chattanooga) and Blake Wylie (Wofford).

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Dion Wilson, Western Carolina, Fr., RB

Wilson rushed for both of Western Carolina's scores in Saturday's 14-10 Homecoming victory over The Citadel in Cullowhee. Wilson only tallied 20 total yards on the ground, but his five-yard scamper off the left side on a crucial fourth-down play midway through the final quarter proved to be the difference. Wilson also hauled in a pair of passes on screen plays for 24 yards.

Other Nominees: Nathan Wade (Furman), Sam Martin (Appalachian State), Blake Wylie (Wofford), Brent Russell (Georgia Southern) and Chris Awuah (Chattanooga).

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jason Vitaris, Appalachian State, Jr., PK

Vitaris booted three field goals, including a 49-yarder in the fourth quarter that tied for the 11th-longest in school history. Vitaris made three field goals for the second game in a row after the feat hadn’t been previously achieved by a Mountaineer in six years. With five PATs and the three field goals, the junior totaled 14 points and moved to 5-for-6 for the season from 40 yards and beyond.