Starks, Sullivan, Jones and Harris Earn Weekly Honors
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference named its football players of the week today for the games played on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Citadel quarterback Miguel Starks was named Offensive Player of the Week while teammate Van Dyke Jones earned Freshman of the Week honors. Elon’s Karlos Sullivan was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week while the Phoenix’s A.J. Harris was tabbed as the Special Teams Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the conference office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Miguel Starks, The Citadel, R-Fr., QB
In his first collegiate start, Starks was responsible for 327 yards and accounted for all five touchdowns in The Citadel’s 38-28 win over Furman. He connected on 14-of-19 passes with no interceptions for 183 yards and one touchdown, while adding 144 yards on the ground with touchdown runs of 11, 5, 17 and 23 yards. Starks’ four rushing touchdowns tied a school single-game scoring record, and he became the first Bulldogs quarterback since Jack Douglas in 1992 to rush for four scores in a single game.
Other Nominees: Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State), Scott Riddle (Elon), Blue Cooper (Chattanooga), Dion Wilson (Western Carolina) and Mitch Allen (Wofford).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Karlos Sullivan, Elon, Sr., DB
Sullivan picked off his third pass of the season and the ninth of his career in Elon’s 45-10 win over Chattanooga. The senior, who now ranks second among active players in the SoCon with his nine picks, also broke up one pass and recovered a fumble while making six tackles.
Other Nominees: Gary Blount (Wofford), Adrian McLeod (Western Carolina), Jabari Fletcher (Appalachian State), Joseph Boateng (The Citadel) and Josh Beard (Chattanooga).
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Van Dyke Jones, The Citadel, Fr., RB
Jones recorded his first 100-yard rushing performance in The Citadel’s 38-28 victory over Furman on Saturday at Johnson Hagood Stadium. The true freshman carried the ball 11 times for 102 yards. His long was a 40-yard run that put the Bulldogs in Paladin territory and set up The Citadel to extend its lead to 38-21 with under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Jones averaged 9.3 yards a carry and also caught two passes for 10 yards.
Other Nominees: Dion Wilson (Western Carolina), Dominique McDuffie (Appalachian State), Blake Wylie (Wofford), Adam Shreiner (Elon) and Joshua Williams (Chattanooga).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: A.J. Harris, Elon, So., Punt Return Team
Harris and the Elon punt return team were instrumental in the Phoenix’s 45-10 SoCon win over Chattanooga on Saturday. The sophomore partially blocked one Chattanooga punt in the first quarter and then in the second quarter scooped up another blocked punt and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.
Other Nominees: Charlie Edwards (Georgia Southern), Jason Vitaris (Appalachian State), Justice Joslin (Wofford), Craig Camay (Chattanooga) and Biron Nabritt (The Citadel).