SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played Oct. 22 on Monday. Samford quarterback Michael Hiers was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Bulldog kicker Zach Williams was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. Chattanooga defensive back Kameron Brown was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford, Birmingham, Ala.
Samford quarterback Michael Hiers was 45-for-51 for 442 yards and four touchdowns passing and ran for 50 yards and another score as the Bulldogs topped ETSU on Saturday, 55-45. Hiers, who had separate consecutive completion streaks of 11, 14 and 15 passes in the game, completed 88.2 percent of his passes on the day, good for fifth-best by an FCS player this season, while his 45 completions are the most for an NCAA Division I quarterback this year. The Birmingham, Alabama, junior completed passes to 11 different players and threw for TDs of 51, 39, 5 and 6 yards in addition to running one in from 2 yards as the Bulldogs remained unbeaten in SoCon play and moved to 4-0 in the league for the first time since 2013. For his efforts, Hiers was also named the FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week by Stats Perform on Monday.
 
Other nominees: Graeson Underwood (The Citadel), Tyler Riddell (ETSU), Dominic Roberto (Furman), Ty James (Mercer), Jamoi Mayes (Chattanooga) and Desmond Reid (Western Carolina).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kameron Brown, Jr., DB, Chattanooga, Mobile, Ala.
Chattanooga defensive back Kameron Brown had a banner day in Saturday’s 41-21 win over then-No. 11/11 Mercer, pacing a Mocs defense that forced six turnovers in the clash between ranked SoCon squads. Brown helped set the tone early, picking off a pass on Mercer’s first offensive series and returning it 53 yards for a touchdown just 3:05 into the contest. The junior from Mobile, Alabama, logged his second turnover of the day late in the fourth quarter, intercepting a pass in the end zone to snuff any hopes of a Bears rally. Brown also added three tackles on the afternoon for Chattanooga, which was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week by Stats Perform.
 
Other nominees: Dominick Poole (The Citadel), Chandler Martin (ETSU), Travis Blackshear (Furman), Isaac Dowling (Mercer), Isaiah Richardson (Samford) and Hayward McQueen (Western Carolina).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Zach Williams, Sr., K, Samford, Louisville, Ky.
Samford kicker Zach Williams accounted for 13 points in the Bulldogs’ 55-45 win over ETSU on Saturday. The senior from Louisville, Kentucky, booted a pair of field goals on the afternoon, matching his career long with a 42-yard make to tie the contest at 3 with 6:14 left in the opening quarter and converting a 32-yard attempt at the halftime horn to send the Bulldogs into the locker room with a 34-24 lead. Williams was also perfect on seven point-after attempts on the day for a season-best point total.
 
Other nominees: Tyler Keltner (ETSU), Wayne Anderson (Furman) and Aaron Sears (Chattanooga).
 
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
Oct. 17       Dominic Roberto, R-Jr., RB, Furman
Oct. 24       Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
 
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
Oct. 17       Michael Campbell, Gr., CB, Mercer
Oct. 24       Kameron Brown, Jr., DB, Chattanooga
 
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
Oct. 17       Matt Sochovka, Gr., DT, Furman
Oct. 24       Zach Williams, Sr., K, Samford