SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference announced its SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO for all games played March 6. Furman tight end Ryan Miller was named the Offensive Player of the Week and teammate Timmy Bleekrode was named Special Teams Player of the Week. Samford safety Chris Edmonds was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ryan Miller, Furman, Jr., TE, Jackson, Tenn.
Furman tight end Ryan Miller played a huge role in Furman’s 44-37, overtime win over Samford on Saturday. The junior from Jackson, Tennessee, had three catches for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Paladins rallied from a 17-point deficit to win. Miller had a 10-yard scoring catch just before halftime to get Furman within a touchdown at 24-17 and added a 73-yard catch and run for a score to knot the game at 37 with 2:59 left in regulation. Furman’s comeback was the largest comeback win in Paladin Stadium history.
 
Other nominees: Ty Kind (Samford), Juwan Tyus (Chattanooga), Reece Udinski (VMI) and Donnavan Spencer (Western Carolina).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Edmonds, Samford, So., S, Columbus, Ga.
Samford safety Chris Edmonds had a pair of interceptions and seven tackles in the Bulldogs’ loss to 17^th-ranked Furman on Saturday. The sophomore from Columbus, Georgia, returned his first interception 45 yards for a score to draw Samford even at 7-7 in the first quarter. He added another pick midway through the third quarter. Five of Edmonds’ seven tackles on the day were solo stops, and he had 1.0 tackle for loss for three yards.
 
Other nominees: Cally Chizik (Furman), Devonnsha Maxwell (Chattanooga), Ethan Caselberry (VMI) and Ty Harris (Western Carolina).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Timmy Bleekrode, Furman, R-So., PK/P, Atlanta, Ga.
Furman kicker Timmy Bleekrode excelled at punting and placekicking Saturday against Samford. The redshirt sophomore from Atlanta, Georgia, punted five times for an average of 47.2 yards, booming two over 50 yards with a long of 55 and downing one punt inside Samford’s 20-yard line. Bleekrode also personally put 14 points on the board, going 3-for-3 on field-goal tries and 5-for-5 on point-after attempts. Furman moved up two spots to No. 15 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 after the win.
 
Other nominees: Mitchell Fineran (Samford), Skyler Wilson (Chattanooga), Jerry Rice (VMI) and Paxton Robertson (Western Carolina).
 
2020-21 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Feb. 22       Quay Holmes, R-Jr., RB, ETSU
March 1      Liam Welch, Sr., QB, Samford
March 8      Ryan Miller, Jr., TE, Furman
 
Defensive
Feb. 22       Donovan Manuel, R-So., LB, ETSU
March 1      Connor Riddle, R-Sr., LB, VMI
March 8      Chris Edmonds, So., S, Samford
 
Special teams
Feb. 22       Paxton Robertson, Fr., K, Western Carolina
March 1      Gabe Boring, Jr., P, Chattanooga
March 8      Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., PK/P, Furman