SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO on Monday, for games Nov. 2. Western Carolina running back Donnavan Spencer and placekicker Julian Pletz were named the Offensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively, while Mercer linebacker Sidney Otiwu was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Donnavan Spencer, Western Carolina, R-Jr., RB, Charlotte, N.C.
Western Carolina running back Donnavan Spencer totaled a career-best 247 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s 43-35 win over VMI, the Catamounts’ first league win of the season. The redshirt junior carried the ball 28 times for 137 yards and two TDs, falling just two yards shy of his career high. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native also had two catches for 110 yards and a score, including a 78-yard pitch-and-catch on Western Carolina’s first play from scrimmage in the contest. The 100-yard rushing game was the third of Spencer’s career.
Other nominees: Raleigh Webb (The Citadel), Will Huzzie (ETSU), Tyray Devezin (Mercer), Jay Stanton (Samford), Ailym Ford (Chattanooga), Alex Ramsey (VMI) and D’mauriae VanCleave (Wofford).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sidney Otiwu, Mercer, R-Jr., LB, Buford, Ga.
Mercer linebacker Sidney Otiwu had 21 tackles in the Bears’ 36-33, triple-overtime win over Samford on Saturday. The redshirt junior from Buford, Georgia, had eight solo stops among his school-record total, which is tied for second-most in a game in the FCS this season. Nineteen of Otiwu’s tackles came in regulation.
Other nominees: Chris Beverly (The Citadel), John Staton (Samford), Ty Boeck (Chattanooga) and Jayden Pauling (Western Carolina).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Julian Pletz, Western Carolina, R-Fr., PK, Liberty Township, Ohio
Western Carolina placekicker Julian Pletz accounted for 13 points in the Catamounts’ 43-35 win at VMI on Saturday. The redshirt freshman from Liberty Township, Ohio, was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts, converting from a career-long 44 and 41 yards in the second quarter and from 26 in the fourth. Pletz, who was also 4-for-4 on point-after kicks, split kickoff duties on the day, kicking off three times.
Other nominees: Jacob Godek (The Citadel), Grayson Atkins (Furman), Grant Goupil (Mercer) 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
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
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
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