SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards presented by GEICO for all games played Sept. 25. Samford quarterback Liam Welch was named the Offensive Player of the Week, VMI linebacker Stone Snyder was named the Defensive Player of the Week and ETSU kicker Tyler Keltner was tabbed the Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Liam Welch, Gr., QB, Samford, Augusta, Ga.
Samford quarterback Liam Welch set SoCon and Samford records for passing yards (582), total offense (655), completions (56) and pass attempts (73) in the Bulldogs’ 55-48 overtime loss to No. 15 ETSU. The graduate student from Augusta, Georgia, tossed three touchdowns on the day, including a 6-yard strike to Montrell Washington just before the half, a 26-yarder to Jai-Rus Creamer with 5:25 left in the third quarter to give Samford its first lead of the day, and a 19-yard scoring pass to Washington with 56 seconds left in regulation to give the Bulldogs a 48-45 lead. Welch also ran for a team-best 73 yards (and a two-point conversion) on the afternoon to easily supplant the former SoCon and school record for total offense held by former Bulldog Devlin Hodges (586 yards). Welch’s 582 passing yards were 12 more than his own league record from a season ago, with 572 of them coming in regulation. Welch was also named the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Other nominees: Fred Davis (Mercer), Korey Bridy (VMI), Rogan Wells (Western Carolina) and Irvin Mulligan (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stone Snyder, Jr., LB, VMI, Richmond, Va.
VMI linebacker Stone Snyder had a season-best 19 tackles in the Keydets’ 31-23 win over Wofford, just two off his career high. Snyder, a junior from Richmond, Virginia, had five solo stops and 14 assisted tackles on the afternoon, including 1.5 tackles for loss for 1 yard. Snyder also added a quarterback hurry as the Keydets beat Wofford in consecutive games for the first time since 1988 and 1992.
 
Other nominees: Luke Ward (Mercer), K.J. Milner (Western Carolina) and John Beckley (Wofford).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Keltner, So., K, ETSU, Tallahassee, Fla.
ETSU kicker Tyler Keltner scored 13 points for the Bucs in their 55-48 overtime win at Samford, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points. The sophomore from Tallahassee, Florida, delivered often and in the clutch, hitting a 27-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to send the contest to OT, where ETSU would pull out the win to remain undefeated on the season. Keltner, who also connected on a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter, kicked off eight times on the afternoon for an average of 61.2 yards. With the win, the Bucs moved up three spots to No. 14 in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 and two spots to No. 13 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
 
Other nominees: Montrell Washington (Samford), Jerry Rice (VMI) and Richard McCollum (Western Carolina).
 
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
 
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
 
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