SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards presented by GEICO for all games played Sept. 2-4. Furman quarterback Hamp Sisson was named the Offensive Player of the Week, ETSU linebacker Stephen Scott was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Samford wide receiver/kick returner Montrell Washington was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hamp Sisson, Jr., QB, Furman, Birmingham, Ala.
Furman quarterback Hamp Sisson went 25-for-40 for a career-high 362 yards and three touchdowns as the Paladins opened the season with a 29-18 win over No. 24 North Carolina A&T on Saturday. Sisson’s 362 passing yards were the second-most in a game in the 117-year history of the Furman football program and more than doubled his 2020-21 seasonal average of 179.7 yards per game. The Birmingham, Alabama, native’s 87-yard touchdown strike to tight end Ryan Adams in the third quarter tied for the fourth-longest pass play in program history and provided what would prove to be the game-winning points as the Paladins scored their first home win over a ranked opponent since 2018. Sisson also threw touchdowns of 17 and 41 yards on the day.
 
Other nominees: Jaylan Adams (The Citadel), Quay Holmes (ETSU), Tommy Pollack (Mercer), Liam Welch (Samford), Seth Morgan (VMI), TJ Jones (Western Carolina) and Irvin Mulligan (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephen Scott, So., LB, ETSU, Greensboro, N.C.
ETSU sophomore linebacker Stephen Scott had a team-high 10 tackles, including one for loss, and returned his first career fumble recovery 27 yards for a touchdown as the Bucs stunned Vanderbilt 23-3 on Saturday for their first win over an FBS program since 1987. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native, filling in for injured All-American Jared Folks, was part of a defensive unit that held the Commodores scoreless after a 53-yard first-quarter field goal and forced three second-half turnovers. Scott’s touchdown put ETSU up 20-3 midway through the fourth quarter.
 
Other nominees: Willie Eubanks III (The Citadel), Travis Blackshear (Furman), Rick Lester III (Mercer), Chris Edmonds (Samford), Brandon Dowdell (Chattanooga), Aljareek Malry (VMI), Ivan Hogans (Western Carolina) and Micheal Mason (Wofford).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Montrell Washington, Sr., WR/KR, Samford, Canton, Ga.
Samford wide receiver/kick returner Montrell Washington returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown as part of an incredible all-around performance in the Bulldogs’ 52-14 win over Tennessee Tech on Thursday. The senior from Canton, Georgia, had three punt returns for 69 yards (23 yards per return) and added 22 yards on a pair of kickoff returns (11 yards per return). Washington also caught seven passes for 128 yards and rushed once for 26 yards to total 245 all-purpose yards on the day, the second-most of the FCS week. Washington’s play also netted him Stats Perform National Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
 
Other nominees: Tyler Keltner (ETSU), Timmy Bleekrode (Furman), Devin Folser (Mercer), Gabe Boring (Chattanooga), Jerry Rice (VMI), Richard McCollum (Western Carolina) and Atkins Roberts (Wofford).
 
2021 SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Offensive
Sept. 6             Hamp Sisson, Jr., QB, Furman
 
Defensive
Sept. 6             Stephen Scott, So., LB, ETSU
 
Special teams
Sept. 6             Montrell Washington, Sr., WR/KR, Samford