SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its football players of the week Monday for all games played Nov. 18. Samford wide receiver Kelvin McKnight and linebacker Shaheed Salmon were named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, while Chattanooga linebacker Marshall Cooper was named the SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office. These are the final weekly honors of the 2017 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kelvin McKnight, Samford, Jr., WR, Bradenton, Fla.
Samford wide receiver Kelvin McKnight was a difference-maker for the Bulldogs in their 26-20 win over No. 24 Furman to end the regular season, as the junior had 10 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. The junior from Bradenton, Florida, who had missed a game two weeks ago and was limited last week against ETSU, returned in a big way, hauling in catches of 41, 39 and 29 yards, the last of which went for his league-best 12th receiving touchdown of the season. McKnight’s TD catch in the third quarter broke a 17-all deadlock and put Samford ahead to stay. The Bulldogs, who finished the regular season with an 8-3 mark and a 6-2 SoCon record, earned an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs and will visit Kennesaw State on Saturday in a rematch of the season opener for both teams.
Other nominees: Cole Copeland (Chattanooga), Detrez Newsome (Western Carolina) and Lennox McAfee (Wofford).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Shaheed Salmon, Samford, Sr., LB, Land O’ Lakes, Fla.
Samford linebacker Shaheed Salmon had a productive day on defense for the Bulldogs in their 26-20 win over No. 24 Furman. The senior from Land O’ Lakes, Florida, had eight tackles, two of which went for loss and one of which was a 10-yard sack. Salmon then sealed the win with 46 seconds to play, making a diving interception to thwart the Paladins’ final drive and comeback attempt. The interception was Salmon’s first of the season.
Other nominees: Dylan Weigel (ETSU), Dale Warren (Chattanooga), JerMichael White (Western Carolina) and Billy Hinton (Wofford).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Marshall Cooper, Chattanooga, So., LB, Hixson, Tenn.
Chattanooga linebacker Marshall Cooper made a huge play on special teams to turn the tide in the Mocs’ 10-3 win over ETSU on Saturday. With Chattanooga trailing 3-0 in the third quarter, the sophomore from Hixson, Tennessee, blocked a punt deep in ETSU territory, setting up Chattanooga with the ball at the Bucs’ 27-yard line. Four plays later, the Mocs scored what would prove to be the winning touchdown. After opening the season 1-7, Chattanooga went 2-1 to end the year, beating No. 8 Samford before falling in overtime to No. 8 Wofford the next week and wrapping up with the win over ETSU.
Other nominees: JJ Jerman (ETSU), Chandler Curtis (Mercer), Austin Barnard (Samford) and Luke Carter (Wofford).
2017 Southern Conference Football Players of the Week
Offense
Sept. 4 Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
Sept. 11 Detrez Newsome, Western Carolina
Sept. 18 Dominque Allen, The Citadel
Sept. 25 Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
Oct. 2 Devlin Hodges, Samford
Oct. 9 Andre Stoddard, Wofford
Oct. 16 Brandon Goodson, Wofford
Oct. 23 Devlin Hodges, Samford
Oct. 30 Antonio Wilcox, Furman
Nov. 6 Detrez Newsome, Western Carolina
Nov. 13 Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina
Nov. 20 Kelvin McKnight, Samford
Defense
Sept. 4 Malik Rivera, Wofford
Sept. 11 Devin Watson, Wofford
Sept. 18 Dylan Weigel, ETSU
Sept. 25 Keion Crossen, Western Carolina
Oct. 2 Tahjai Watt, Western Carolina
Oct. 9 Lee Bennett, Mercer
Oct. 16 John Brannon III, Western Carolina
Oct. 23 Omari Williams, Samford
Oct. 30 Tae Davis, Chattanooga
Nov. 6 Devin Watson, Wofford
Nov. 13 Lee Bennett, Mercer
Nov. 20 Shaheed Salmon, Samford
Special Teams
Sept. 4 Luke Carter, Wofford
Sept. 11 Cole Fisher, Mercer
Sept. 18 Austin Barnard, Samford
Sept. 25 JJ Jerman, ETSU
Oct. 2 Logan McCarter, Furman
Oct. 9 Luke Carter, Wofford
Oct. 16 Jon Croft Hollingsworth, Furman
Oct. 23 Joshua Gibson, Western Carolina
Oct. 30 Victor Ulmo, Chattanooga
Nov. 6 Luke Carter, Wofford
Nov. 13 Chandler Curtis, Mercer
Nov. 20 Marshall Cooper, Chattanooga
-www.SoConSports.com-