SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards presented by GEICO on Monday for all games played Oct. 9. Furman tailback Devin Wynn was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Mercer safety Lance Wise was named the Defensive Player of the Week and VMI kicker Jerry Rice was tabbed the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Devin Wynn, Sr., TB, Furman, Greensboro, Ga.
Furman tailback Devin Wynn piled up 247 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns as the Paladins downed rival Wofford 42-20 Saturday. The senior from Greensboro, Georgia, rushed a career-high 31 times for 204 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 43 yards and another TD as Furman snapped a seven-game losing streak in Spartanburg, South Carolina, winning there for the first time since 2006. Wynn’s strong play helped the Paladins erase a pair of 10-point first-half deficits, while his two rushing touchdowns pushed his career total to 29, moving him into a tie for seventh in program history.
 
Other nominees: Quay Holmes (ETSU), Fred Davis (Mercer), Tyrell Price (Chattanooga), Michael Jackson (VMI) and Kenny Benjamin (Western Carolina).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Lance Wise, So., S, Mercer, Marietta, Ga.
Mercer safety Lance Wise had an all-around impressive performance in the Bears’ 34-24 win over Western Carolina. The sophomore from Marietta, Georgia, had eight tackles, six of which were solo and one of which went for a 1-yard loss. Wise also came up with a pair of turnovers that led to scores, forcing a first-quarter fumble that the Bears recovered before scoring the game’s first touchdown on the ensuing drive and intercepting a fourth-quarter pass and returning it 56 yards to the WCU 1-yard line, leading to the final touchdown of the contest to seal the win.
 
Other nominees: Donovan Manuel (ETSU), Kam Jones (Chattanooga), Josh Knapp (VMI) and Ivan Hogans (Western Carolina).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jerry Rice, R-So., K, VMI, Daleville, Va.
VMI kicker Jerry Rice accounted for a career-high 17 points as the Keydets downed No. 19 Chattanooga in overtime, 37-34. The redshirt sophomore from Daleville, Virginia, converted both of his extra-point attempts and was 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts to match VMI’s single-game record for field goals set in 1977. Rice scored the game’s first nine points, converting field goals of 32, 27 and 18 yards in the first half. His 49-yard field goal with 41 seconds left in the contest put VMI up 34-31, but after Chattanooga tied it on a last-second field goal, Rice hit from 37 yards in overtime to give the Keydets their first win over a ranked opponent this season.
 
Other nominees: Matt Campbell (The Citadel), Garrett Taylor (ETSU), Devin Folser (Mercer) and Richard McCollum (Western Carolina).
 
2021 SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Offensive
Sept. 6             Hamp Sisson, Jr., QB, Furman
Sept. 13            Jacob Saylors, Jr., RB, ETSU
Sept. 20            DeMarcus Ware, Sr., RB, Samford
Sept. 27            Liam Welch, Gr., QB, Samford
Oct. 4               Fred Davis, R-Fr., RB, Mercer
Oct. 11             Devin Wynn, Sr., TB, Furman
 
Defensive
Sept. 6             Stephen Scott, So., LB, ETSU
Sept. 13            Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., DE, Chattanooga
Sept. 20            Ty Boeck, Jr., LB, Chattanooga
Sept. 27            Stone Snyder, Jr., LB, VMI
Oct. 4               Dominick Poole, Fr., CB, The Citadel
Oct. 11             Lance Wise, So., S, Mercer
 
Special teams
Sept. 6             Montrell Washington, Sr., WR/KR, Samford
Sept. 13            Timmy Bleekrode, So., PK/P, Furman
Sept. 20            Aaron Sears, Fr., PK, Chattanooga
Sept. 27            Tyler Keltner, So., K, ETSU
Oct. 4               Atkins Roberts, So., K/P, Wofford
Oct. 11             Jerry Rice, R-So., K, VMI