SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference named its football players of the week today for the games played Saturday, November 19. Elon's Aaron Mellette was named Offensive Player of the Week while Chattanooga's Ryan Consiglio earned Defensive Player of the Week honors. Georgia Southern's Dominique Swope was selected as the Freshman of the Week while teammate Laron Scott was tabbed the Special Teams Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Aaron Mellette, Elon, Jr., WR, Sanford, N.C.
Elon's Aaron Mellette caught 14 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown as Elon fell to Appalachian State 28-24 Saturday afternoon. The junior wideout was just one yard shy of matching his career high which he set earlier this season. It was Mellette's ninth 100-yard receiving game in 2011. He set a new Southern Conference record with 1,639 receiving yards in a season, eclipsing Terrell Hudgins' record of 1,633 set in 2009.
Other Nominees: Brian Quick (Appalachian State), Darien Robinson (The Citadel), Jerodis Williams (Furman), Dominique Swope (Georgia Southern), Kelsey Pope (Samford), B.J. Coleman (Chattanooga), Nate Harris (Western Carolina) and Donovan Johnson (Wofford).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ryan Consiglio, Chattanooga, Sr., LB, Franklin, Tenn.
Senior linebacker Ryan Consiglio tallied a career-high 19 tackles as Chattanooga fell to Wofford, 28-27. Consiglio recorded 13 solo stops and was credited with six assisted tackles, including one tackle for loss. His 19 tackles tied for the third highest single-game output in the conference this season. The senior finished 2011 with a league-high 120 tackles. Saturday's performance was Consiglio's 10th game of at least 10 tackles this season and was the highest single-game total for a Moc since 2001. The Franklin, Tenn., native finishes his career sixth on UTC's all-time tackles list.
Other Nominees: Jeremy Kimbrough (Appalachian State), Rod Harland (The Citadel), Joshua Jones (Elon), Deion Stanley (Georgia Southern), Alvin Hines (Samford), Courtland Carson (Western Carolina) and Alvin Scioneaux (Wofford).
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Dominique Swope, Georgia Southern, Fr., RB, Buford, Ga.
Dominique Swope earned the league's Freshman of the Week honor for the second consecutive week after rushing for 153 yards and a touchdown at FBS No. 2 Alabama. Swope carried the ball 18 times for an average of 8.5 yards per carry against the Crimson Tide. The Buford, Ga., native ripped off an 82-yard touchdown run in the second quarter which was the longest run given up by Alabama all season. GSU recorded 302 rushing yards on Saturday, the highest mark allowed by the Crimson Tide since 2004.
Other Nominees: Ronald Blair (Appalachian State), Miles Williams (Elon), Jeremiaha Gates (Samford), Faysal Shafaat (Chattanooga), Christon Gill (Western Carolina) and Kevin Thomas (Wofford).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Laron Scott, Georgia Southern, Sr., CB/KR, Warner Robins, Ga.
Senior Laron Scott returned six kickoffs for 183 yards at Alabama, including a 95-yard touchdown return midway through the third quarter to pull the Eagles within ten points (31-21). Scott's 183 yards was a career high, while his 95-yard touchdown was the third-longest return TD in school history.
Other Nominees: Cass Couey (The Citadel), Kenton Beal (Elon), Cameron Yaw (Samford), Nick Pollard (Chattanooga) and Blake Cain (Western Carolina).