SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its football players of the week Monday for all games played Nov. 17. Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges was named Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Bulldogs to a road win over No. 17 ETSU, while Furman bandit linebacker Adrian Hope was named Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in helping the Paladins capture a share of the SoCon title. Western Carolina placekicker Will Horton earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors after kicking four field goals and scoring 14 points at FBS North Carolina.
The players of the week are selected by the league office and are the final selections of the season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Devlin Hodges, Samford, R-Sr., QB, Kimberly, Ala.
Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges threw for 404 yards and ran for three touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 38-27 win at No. 17 ETSU on Saturday. The redshirt senior completed 40 of his 53 pass attempts en route to becoming the FCS’s career leader in passing yards. He entered the contest trailing Alcorn State great Steve McNair by 316 yards and surpassed that total with a 7-yard pass to DeMarcus Ware to end the third quarter. Hodges would finish the contest and his career with 14,584 career yards, bettering McNair’s mark by 88. With his SoCon-record sixth 400-yard passing game of the season, Hodges also eclipsed his own league record for single-season yards, finishing with 4,283. The weekly honor is Hodges’ third of the season and the ninth of his career. He is a finalist for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year).
Other nominees: Dante Smith (The Citadel), Quay Holmes (ETSU), Harris Roberts (Furman), Tyray Devezin (Mercer), Bryce Nunnelly (Chattanooga), Tyrie Adams (Western Carolina) and Lennox McAfee (Wofford).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Adrian Hope, Furman, R-Fr., BAN, Ocala, Fla.
Furman bandit Adrian Hope had 2.5 sacks among four total tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble as the Paladins earned a 35-30 road win over Mercer to claim a share of the SoCon title on Saturday. On Hope’s first full sack, he forced a fumble that Furman was able to recover at the Mercer 25-yard line and later convert into a field goal. His second full sack came on the final play of the game, as Mercer was attempting one last shot at the end zone. Hope came up with a strip sack and recovered the fumble to clinch the game and the title. His 2.5 sacks pushed his season total to an FCS-best 15.0 on the year, while his five forced fumbles on the season are good for second. He is a finalist for the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year).
Other nominees: Tyree Robinson (ETSU), Sidney Otiwu (Mercer), Aaron Harris (Samford), Tavon Lawson (Chattanooga), Mitchell Chancey (Western Carolina) and Mason Alstatt (Wofford).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Will Horton, Western Carolina, So., PK, Acworth, Ga.
Western Carolina placekicker Will Horton accounted for 14 of the Catamounts’ 26 points in their loss at FBS North Carolina on Saturday. Horton was a career-best 4-for-4 in field-goal attempts, converting from 43, 45, 33 and 26 yards, respectively, and pushing his season total to 6-for-8 from 40-49 yards. He was also 2-for-2 in point-after attempts and kicked off seven times for an average of 61.4 yards, notching one touchback. Horton finished the season with 87 points, good for third in the SoCon and sixth-most in a season in Western Carolina history. With 19 career field-goal makes, the sophomore is already 10th in school history.
Other nominees: Matthew Campbell (The Citadel), JJ Jerman (ETSU), Matt Shiel (Mercer), Mitchell Fineran (Samford) and Luke Carter (Wofford).
2018 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 3 Bryce Nunnelly, So., WR, Chattanooga
Sept. 10 Bryce Nunnelly, So., WR, Chattanooga
Sept. 17 Robert Riddle, R-Fr., QB, Mercer
Sept. 24 Reece Udinski, So., QB, VMI
Oct. 1 Tyrie Adams, R-Jr., QB, Western Carolina
Oct. 8 Devlin Hodges, R-Sr., QB, Samford
Oct. 15 Harris Roberts, R-Sr., QB, Furman
Oct. 22 Tyrie Adams, R-Jr., QB, Western Carolina
Oct. 29 Tyrie Adams, R-Jr., QB, Western Carolina
Nov. 5 Devlin Hodges, R-Sr., QB, Samford
Nov. 12 Brandon Rainey, R-So., QB, The Citadel
Nov. 19 Devlin Hodges, R-Sr., QB, Samford
Defensive
Sept. 3 Noah Dawkins, Sr., LB, The Citadel
Sept. 10 Aaron Harris, Sr., LB, Samford
Sept. 17 Jared Folks, R-Sr., LB, ETSU
Sept. 24 Marshall Cooper, Jr., LB, Chattanooga
Oct. 1 Nasir Player, R-Jr., DL, ETSU
Oct. 8 Tre’Shun Floyd, So., LB, Samford
Oct. 15 Tyree Robinson, So., DB, ETSU
Oct. 22 Ahmad Gooden, Sr., DL, Samford
Oct. 29 Donavan Perryman, Jr., LB, Furman
Nov. 5 Artevius Smith, R-Jr., DB, ETSU
Nov. 12 Aron Spann III, Sr., DB, The Citadel
Nov. 19 Adrian Hope, R-Fr., BAN, Furman
Special teams
Sept. 3 Mitchell Fineran, Fr., PK, Samford
Sept. 10 Mitchell Fineran, Fr., PK, Samford
Sept. 17 Cole Fisher, Sr., PK, Mercer
Sept. 24 Rod Johnson, RB/KR, Jr., The Citadel
Oct. 1 Dejuan Bell, WR/RS, Fr., Furman
Oct. 8 Mitchell Fineran, Fr., PK, Samford
Oct. 15 JJ Jerman, Sr., PK, ETSU
Oct. 22 Grayson Atkins, So., K, Furman
Oct. 29 Grayson Atkins, So., K, Furman
Nov. 5 Grayson Atkins, So., K, Furman
Nov. 12 Stephen Houzah, Sr., WR/RS, Mercer
Nov. 19 Will Horton, So., PK, Western Carolina
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