SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played Oct. 8 on Monday. ETSU running back Jacob Saylors was named the Offensive Player of the Week, teammate and kicker Tyler Keltner repeated as Special Teams Player of the Week. Mercer linebacker Isaac Dowling was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jacob Saylors, Sr., RB, ETSU, Jasper, Tenn.
ETSU running back Jacob Saylors ran for 183 yards and a career-high tying three touchdowns on a career-high 29 carries in Saturday’s 44-21 win at VMI. The 183 yards are the third-most in a game in Saylors’ career and marked his 10^th career 100-yard game. Saylors, whose 29 rushing attempts are the most for any SoCon player this season, averaged 6.3 yards per carry. The senior from Jasper, Tennessee, also had three catches for 22 yards and one kickoff return for 20 yards, giving him 225 all-purpose yards for the day.
 
Other nominees: Dominic Roberto (Furman), Fred Payton (Mercer), Michael Hiers (Samford), Leroy Thomas (VMI), Clayton Bardall (Western Carolina) and Kyle Parsons (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Isaac Dowling, So., LB, Mercer, Snellville, Ga.
Mercer linebacker Isaac Dowling totaled seven tackles (three solo) and his first two career interceptions as the Bears downed Western Carolina 49-6 Saturday. The sophomore from Snellville, Georgia, counted 1.5 tackles for loss among his seven stops and helped hold Western Carolina’s high-powered offense to just two third-quarter field goals and a season-low 249 yards of total offense. The Catamounts entered the contest ninth in FCS in scoring offense at 39.2 points per game and second in the FCS in total offense at 549.8. Both of Dowling’s interceptions came in the second quarter and stopped Catamount drives near midfield.
 
Other nominees: Hasan Black (The Citadel), Rodney Wright (ETSU), Braden Gilby (Furman), Nathan East (Samford), Samaurie Dukes (Western Carolina) and Harrison Morgan (Wofford).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Keltner, Jr., K, ETSU, Tallahassee, Fla.
For the second straight week, ETSU kicker Tyler Keltner tied his career high by converting three field goals. The junior from Tallahassee, Florida, accounted for 14 points in the Bucs’ 44-21 win at VMI on Saturday, remaining perfect for his career in extra-point attempts with five makes in addition to his three field goals. Keltner’s first field goal of the day was true from 44 yards early in the second quarter. Later in the period, he added a season-long 48-yarder. His final field goal was a 41-yard make with just over six minutes left in the game. Keltner moved into third in program history and first for kickers in scoring with 258 points. With 48 career field goals, he is five shy of ETSU’s program record, held by JJ Jerman.
 
Other nominees: Trey Turk (Mercer), Bradley Porcellato (Samford) and Richard McCollum (Western Carolina).
 
2022 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 5       Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
Sept. 12      Preston Hutchinson, Sr., QB, Chattanooga
Sept. 19      Preston Hutchinson, Sr., QB, Chattanooga
Sept. 26      Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
Oct. 3         Jaylan Thomas, Sr., RB, Samford
Oct. 10       Jacob Saylors, Sr., RB, ETSU
 
Defensive
Sept. 5       Reuben Lowery III, So., DB, Chattanooga
Sept. 12      Chandler Martin, R-Fr., LB, ETSU
Sept. 19      Hugh Ryan, R-Jr., FS, Furman
Sept. 26      Isaiah Richardson, Sr., DB, Samford
Oct. 3         Nathan East, Gr., LB, Samford
Oct. 10       Isaac Dowling, So., LB, Mercer
 
Special teams
Sept. 5       Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina
Sept. 12      Colby Kintner, Jr., K, The Citadel
Sept. 19      Ian Williams, R-So., PK, Furman
Sept. 26      Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina
Oct. 3         Tyler Keltner, Jr., K, ETSU
Oct. 10       Tyler Keltner, Jr., K, ETSU