SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its football players of the week Monday for all games played Nov. 21. The Citadel’s Tyler Renew was named the Offensive Player of the Week. Western Carolina’s Daniel Riddle was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week, while Samford’s Anthony Pistelli was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Renew, The Citadel, Jr., RB, Columbia, S.C.
Junior running back Tyler Renew led The Citadel’s offense as the Bulldogs claimed a 23-22 win at FBS South Carolina on Saturday. Renew carried 23 times for a career-high 174 yards and two touchdowns. The Columbia, S.C., native scored a 56-yard touchdown with 6:07 left in the contest to give The Citadel the lead for good. Renew’s 174 yards was the most the Gamecocks have allowed at home since Arkansas’ Darren McFadden rushed for 219 yards in 2006. The Bulldogs earned a berth in the FCS Playoffs and will travel to face Coastal Carolina on Saturday.
Other Nominees: Devlin Hodges (Samford), Jacob Huesman (Chattanooga), Derrick Ziglar (VMI), Detrez Newsome (Western Carolina) and Evan Jacks (Wofford).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Daniel Riddle, Western Carolina, So., LB, Raleigh, N.C.
Daniel Riddle helped anchor a Western Carolina defense that held off VMI on Saturday as the Catamounts claimed a 24-20 win on the road. Riddle was one of two Catamounts to record 15 tackles in the win, as he recorded five solo stops and was credited with 10 assists. The sophomore added a pass break-up in the win as WCU limited the Keydets to just seven points in the decisive second half. Riddle has had double-digit tackles in all but two games this season and leads the Southern Conference with 129 tackles.
Other Nominees: Joe Crochet (The Citadel), Justin Cooper (Samford), Sema’je Kendall (Chattanooga), Ryan Francis (VMI) and Drake Michaelson (Wofford).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Anthony Pistelli, Samford, Sr., PK, Thomasville, Ga.
Samford’s Anthony Pistelli was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week for the third consecutive week. Pistelli was 4-of-4 on field goal attempts and was 5-of-5 on PATs as Samford earned a 47-21 win at Mercer to close the regular season. Pistelli made a 40-yard field goal late in the first quarter to get Samford on the scoreboard and then booted three field goals from 46 yards out in the second and third quarters. He accounted for 17 points in the win and averaged 59.6 yards on 10 kickoffs for the Bulldogs.
Other Nominees: Eric Goings (The Citadel), Matt Shiel (Mercer), Henrique Ribeiro (Chattanooga), Dillon Christopher (VMI), Ian Berryman (Western Carolina) and Lennox McAfee (Wofford).