SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer cornerback Yahsyn McKee has claimed two the three Southern Conference Football Player of the Week awards presented by GEICO for all games played April 10, earning the nod on defense and special teams. The Citadel quarterback Jaylan Adams was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Mercer won its third straight game over a ranked opponent Saturday, downing No. 20/21 ETSU 21-13. In addition to keeping their SoCon title hopes alive with the win, the Bears moved into the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 at No. 23.
 
 
DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Yahsyn McKee, Mercer, So., CB, Stockbridge, Ga.
Mercer cornerback Yahsyn McKee, who played receiver as a freshman last season, had five tackles and two pass breakups in the win over ETSU and returned a fumble 63 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to extend the Bears’ lead to 21-6. The sophomore from Stockbridge, Georgia, also had a huge day on special teams, returning three kicks for 110 yards, including an 80-yard return in the second quarter that set up Mercer’s second touchdown of the day. McKee added one punt return for nine yards, giving him 119 all-purpose yards on the day. McKee is the first SoCon player to win two awards in the same week since Chattanooga quarterback Jacob Huesman was named the offensive and freshman player of the week on Nov. 19, 2012.
 
Other defensive nominees: Anthony Britton Jr. (The Citadel) and Mike Price (ETSU).
 
Other special teams nominees: Matt Campbell (The Citadel) and Tyler Keltner (ETSU).
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jaylan Adams, The Citadel, So., QB, Johnson City, Tenn.
The Citadel quarterback Jaylan Adams ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Furman 26-7 in the 100^th meeting between the rivals. The sophomore from Johnson City, Tennessee, carried the ball 18 times on the afternoon, scoring on a 25-yard run to make it 13-0 after one quarter and adding a 43-yard touchdown run with 5:16 left in the game to make it 19-7. Adams directed an offense that gained 286 yards on the ground Saturday.
 
Other nominees: Brock Landis (ETSU).
 
 
2020-21 SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Offensive
Feb. 22             Quay Holmes, R-Jr., RB, ETSU
March 1            Liam Welch, Sr., QB, Samford
March 8            Ryan Miller, Jr., TE, Furman
March 15          Donnavan Spencer, Sr., RB, Western Carolina
March 22          Liam Welch, Sr., QB, Samford
March 29          Jakob Herres, Jr., WR, VMI
April 5               Quay Holmes, R-Jr., RB, ETSU
April 12             Jaylan Adams, So., QB, The Citadel
 
Defensive
Feb. 22             Donovan Manuel, R-So., LB, ETSU
March 1            Connor Riddle, R-Sr., LB, VMI
March 8            Chris Edmonds, So., S, Samford
March 15          Chris Edmonds, So., S, Samford
March 22          Ty Boeck, Jr., LB, Chattanooga
March 29          Christian Snyder, Jr., LB, Chattanooga
April 5               Alijah Huzzie, R-Fr., DB, ETSU
April 12             Yahsyn McKee, So., CB, Mercer
 
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
March 15          Mitchell Fineran, Jr., PK, Samford
March 22          Caleb Dowden, R-So., P/K, Mercer
March 29          Tyler Keltner, So., K, ETSU
April 5               Caleb Dowden, R-So., P/K, Mercer
April 12             Yahsyn McKee, So., CB, Mercer