SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO on Monday, for games Nov. 16. ETSU running back Quay Holmes was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Western Carolina linebacker Jayden Pauling was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Samford wide receiver/kick returner Montrell Washington earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Quay Holmes, ETSU, R-So., RB, Powder Springs, Ga.
ETSU running back Quay Holmes ran for a school-record 255 yards and a career-best three touchdowns in the Bucs’ 38-33 win over Mercer on Saturday. Holmes averaged 9.8 yards per carry on 26 attempts, ripping off a long of 74 yards to break the 21-year-old school record of 242 rushing yards. The redshirt sophomore from Powder Springs, Georgia, also had three kick returns for 59 yards, giving him 314 all-purpose yards on the day. Holmes’ big day put him over 1,000 rushing yards on the day, making him just the fifth player in program history to reach the milestone in a season.
Other nominees: Remus Bulmer (The Citadel), Liam Welch (Samford), Bryce Nunnelly (Chattanooga), Tyrie Adams (Western Carolina) and Blake Morgan (Wofford).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jayden Pauling, Western Carolina, R-So., LB, Raleigh, N.C.
Western Carolina linebacker Jayden Pauling had eight tackles, seven of which were solo and two of which went for 11 lost yards, and forced three fumbles in the Catamounts’ 31-13 loss to Samford on Saturday. Two of Pauling’s forced fumbles came on sacks, while the third came late in the fourth quarter to halt a Samford drive. With a team-high five forced fumbles on the season, the redshirt sophomore from Raleigh, North Carolina, is just two shy of the program’s single-season record of seven set in 1972.
Other nominees: Willie Eubanks III (The Citadel), Armond Lloyd (Samford), Marshall Cooper (Chattanooga) and Brnadon Brown (Wofford).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Montrell Washington, Samford, Jr., WR/KR, Canton, Ga.
Samford wide receiver/kick returner Montrell Washington produced one of the biggest plays in the Bulldogs’ 31-13 win at Western Carolina on Saturday. With Samford trailing 10-0 in the first quarter, Washington returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown, getting the Bulldogs on the board and swinging moment in the contest. The junior from Canton, Georgia, also returned one kick for 21 yards and caught an eight-yard pass to total 88 all-purpose yards on the afternoon. Washington’s punt return for a score was just the second in the league this season.
Other nominees: Matt Campbell (The Citadel), Tyler Keltner (ETSU), Gabe Boring (Chattanooga), Julian Pletz (Western Carolina) and Luke Carter (Wofford).
2019 SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Offensive
Sept. 2 Chris Oladokun, Jr., QB, Samford
Sept. 9 Darren Grainger, R-Fr., QB, Furman
Sept. 16 Chris Oladokun, Jr., QB, Samford
Sept. 23 Chris Oladokun, Jr., QB, Samford
Sept. 30 Liam Welch, Jr., QB, Samford
Oct. 7 Devin Wynn, Jr., TB, Furman
Oct. 14 Alex Ramsey, R-Jr., RB, VMI
Oct. 21 Joe Newman, Sr., QB, Wofford
Oct. 28 Joe Newman, Sr., QB, Wofford
Nov. 4 Donnavan Spencer, R-Jr., RB, Western Carolina
Nov. 11 Devin Wynn, Jr., TB, Furman
NOV. 18 Quay Holmes, R-So., RB, ETSU
Defensive
Sept. 2 Marshall Cooper, Sr., LB, Chattanooga
Sept. 9 Kaleb Tucker, Sr., DB, VMI
Sept. 16 Braden Gilby, R-Fr., LB, Furman
Sept. 23 Jireh Wilson, Sr., LB, Wofford
Sept. 30 Artevius Smith, R-Sr., DB, ETSU
Oct. 7 Ty Boeck, So., LB, Chattanooga
Oct. 14 Marquise Blount, So., LB, The Citadel
Oct. 21 Marquise Blount, So., LB, The Citadel
Oct. 28 Artevius Smith, R-Sr., DB, ETSU
Nov. 4 Sidney Otiwu, R-Jr., LB, Mercer
Nov. 11 Ty Harris, Jr., LB, Western Carolina
Nov. 18 Jayden Pauling, R-So., LB, Western Carolina
Special teams
Sept. 2 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman
Sept. 9 Sean-Thomas Faulkner, R-So., DB, The Citadel
Sept. 16 Jacob Godek, Sr., K, The Citadel
Sept. 23 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman
Sept. 30 Mitchell Fineran, So., PK, Samford
Oct. 7 Grant Clemons, Sr., K, VMI
Oct. 14 Grant Clemons, Sr., K, VMI
Oct. 21 Jacob Godek, Sr., K, The Citadel
Oct. 28 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman
Nov. 4 Julian Pletz, R-Fr., PK, Western Carolina
Nov. 11 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman
Nov. 18 Montrell Washington, WR/KR, Jr., Samford
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