SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman football player Timmy Bleekrode has been named the Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for all competition from Sept. 8-14. The selection is made by the conference office.
 
The Student-Athlete of the Week award is Bleekrode’s second honor this week, as the redshirt sophomore place kicker/punter earned the SoCon’s Special Teams Player of the Week award presented by GEICO on Monday following his performance in the Paladins’ 26-0 shutout victory over Tennessee Tech on Saturday. Bleekrode, who handled both the punting and placekicking duties for Furman, registered 14 of the 26 points after successfully converting all four field-goal opportunities, including a career-long 51-yarder that ties for the eighth-longest field goal in Furman history. The Atlanta, Georgia, native is now 7-of-8 on field goals for this season and currently leads the FCS in made field goals per game with 3.5. Not only did Bleekrode excel in his placekicking duties, but in his punting responsibilities as well, averaging 38.5 yards on six punts, with a long of 46 yards. Bleekrode is now 13-of-15 on field-goal attempts in his one-plus season as the Paladins’ kicker. His performance helped Furman improve to 2-0, allowing the Paladins to grab the 25^th spot in the American Football Coaches Association FCS Top-25 poll.
 
Bleekrode, who is also a two-time SoCon Academic Honor Roll selection, retains a 3.69 grade point average and is majoring in business management.
 
The Paladins will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. game against NC State (1-1).
 
Also nominated for Student-Athlete of the Week: Kyra Ranvek (ETSU women’s soccer), Zoe Perrin (Samford women’s soccer), Jerrell Lawson (Chattanooga football) and Melody Mezzina (Western Carolina, women’s soccer).
 
SoCon Student-Athletes of the Week
Sept. 1       Meghan Yaffa, R-Jr., OH, Wofford volleyball
Sept. 7       Hamp Sisson, Jr., QB, Furman football
Sept. 15     Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., PK/P, Furman football