SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards presented by GEICO on Monday for all games played Nov. 6. Furman running back Dominic Roberto was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while ETSU linebacker Donovan Manuel and placekicker Tyler Keltner were tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Dominic Roberto, R-So., RB, Furman, Fayetteville, N.C.
Furman running back Dominic Roberto had 24 carries for a career-high 196 yards and four touchdowns as the Paladins dropped a 43-42 shootout at Western Carolina on Saturday. The redshirt sophomore from Fayetteville, North Carolina, averaged 8.2 yards per carry on the day, scoring on runs of 3 yards in the first quarter, 3 yards in the second and 35 yards and 11 yards, both in the third quarter. Roberto’s career day headlined the Paladins’ season-best 316-yard rushing effort.
 
Other nominees: Quay Holmes (ETSU), Jay Stanton (Samford), Cole Strange (Chattanooga) and Rogan Wells (Western Carolina).
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Donovan Manuel, R-So., LB, ETSU, Ellenwood, Ga.
ETSU linebacker Donovan Manuel turned in a career-best 16 tackles as the Bucs downed No. 18 VMI 27-20, holding the high-octane Keydets 13.6 points below their season scoring average, 53.5 yards below their total offense average and 66.2 yards below their season rushing average. Manuel, a redshirt sophomore from Ellenwood, Georgia, counted six solo tackles among his 16 stops on the day, including a sack for 11 yards. He also added a pass breakup.
 
Other nominees: Midnight Steward (Samford), Ty Boeck (Chattanooga), Jacob Harris (Western Carolina) and Joe Beckett (Wofford).
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Keltner, So., K, ETSU, Tallahassee, Fla.
ETSU placekicker Tyler Keltner earned his second weekly honor of the season by scoring nine points in the Bucs’ win over No. 18 VMI. In addition to making all three of his point-after attempts, the sophomore from Tallahassee, Florida, went 2-for-2 on field goals, hitting both in the fourth quarter as ETSU tried to put the Keydets away. Keltner’s first make was from 35 yards early in the quarter, pushing the Bucs’ lead to 24-10. After VMI pulled within seven on a touchdown a few minutes later, Keltner connected on his second-longest field goal of the season, a 42-yarder that put ETSU back up by two scores with 5:38 left. He also averaged 56.8 yards on six kickoffs with one touchback.
 
Other nominees: Montrell Washington (Samford), Richard McCollum (Western Carolina) and James Wells (Wofford).
 
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
Oct. 18             Tyrell Price, Sr., RB, Chattanooga
Oct. 25             Carlos Davis, R-So., QB, Western Carolina
Nov. 1              Rogan Wells, Gr., QB, Western Carolina
Nov. 8              Dominic Roberto, R-So., RB, 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
Oct. 18             Devonnsha Maxwell, Jr., DE, Chattanooga
Oct. 25             Rashun Freeman, Sr., DB, Chattanooga
Nov. 1              Lance Wise, So., S, Mercer
Nov. 8              Donovan Manuel, R-So., LB, ETSU
 
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
Oct. 18             Zach Williams, Jr., PK, Samford
Oct. 25             Aaron Sears, Fr., PK, Chattanooga
Nov. 1              Richard McCollum, R-So., PK, Western Carolina
Nov. 8              Tyler Keltner, So., K, ETSU