SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference announced its SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO, for all games played Feb. 20. ETSU running back Quay Holmes was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Bucs linebacker Donovan Manuel was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Western Carolina kicker Paxton Robertson was tabbed Special Teams Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Quay Holmes, ETSU, R-Jr., RB, Powder Springs, Ga.
ETSU running back Quay Holmes carried 19 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the Bucs’ season-opening 24-17 win over Samford on Saturday. The redshirt junior from Powder Springs, Georgia, scored one a 1-yard run with just 5 seconds left in the first half and opened the second-half scoring with another 1-yard run with 9:18 left in the third quarter to draw ETSU even at 14-all. Holmes, who moved into seventh on ETSU’s career rushing list in the win, added a pair of kick returns for 53 yards to finish with 178 all-purpose yards on the day.
 
Other nominees: Devin Wynn (Furman) and Jimmy Weirick (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Donovan Manuel, ETSU, R-So., LB, Ellenwood, Ga.
Linebacker Donovan Manuel had an all-around productive day for the ETSU defense in the Bucs’ win over Samford. The redshirt sophomore from Ellenwood, Georgia, had nine tackles on the day (six solo), including a pair of sacks for 22 lost yards. Manuel, who forced a fumble on one of those sacks, also picked off a Samford pass in ETSU territory with just 8 seconds left to seal the win.
 
Other nominees: Nelson Jordan (Samford), Jacob Harris (Western Carolina) and Michael Mason (Wofford).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Paxton Robertson, Western Carolina, Fr., Knoxville, Tenn.
Western Carolina freshman kicker Paxton Robertson handled his usual kickoff duties and filled in admirably for starting punter Brandon Dickerson in the Catamounts’ 35-7 loss to No. 15 Furman. The rookie from Knoxville, Tennessee, kicked off twice for an average of 63.0 yards and punted a career-high eight times for an average of 43.0 yards. Robertson had three punts of 50 yards or more, including a career-long 55-yarder, and saw five kicks downed inside the Paladins’ 20-yard line.
 
Other nominees: Alijah Huzzie (ETSU) and Dawson Henis (Wofford).
 
2020-21 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Feb. 22       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., RB, ETSU
 
Defensive
Feb. 22       Donovan Manuel, R-So., LB, ETSU
 
Special teams
Feb. 22       Paxton Robertson, Fr., K, Western Carolina