SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played Oct. 1 on Monday. Samford running back Jaylan Thomas was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Bulldog linebacker Nathan East was named the Defensive Player of the Week. ETSU kicker Tyler Keltner was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jaylan Thomas, Sr., RB, Samford, Carrollton, Ga.
Samford running back Jaylan Thomas ran for 104 yards and a career-best three touchdowns on just five carries as the Bulldogs went on the road to beat Furman on Saturday, 34-27. The senior Elon transfer scored twice in the second quarter, with his 28-yard scamper with 7:05 left in the half putting the Bulldogs ahead for the first time on the day, 13-10. With 2:29 left in the opening half, Thomas added a 14-yard scoring run. He capped his scoring with a 44-yard touchdown run just 1:20 into the third quarter as Samford went up 27-17.
 
Other nominees: Jace Wilson (Furman), Fred Payton (Mercer), Ailym Ford (Chattanooga), Chance Knox (VMI) and Carlos Davis (Western Carolina).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nathan East, Gr., LB, Samford, McCalla, Alabama
Samford linebacker Nathan East had an active day for the Bulldogs’ defense, accounting for 10 total tackles, an 8-yard sack, two forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. The graduate student from McCalla, Alabama, forced his first fumble late in the third quarter, which Samford recovered. On Furman’s next possession, East forced another fumble on a sack, with the Bulldogs again recovering and scoring a touchdown on their ensuing possession to make it 34-17. East was also named the FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week by Stats Perform on Monday.
 
Other nominees: Jalen Porter (ETSU), Michael Campbell (Mercer), Jay Person (Chattanooga), Andreas Keaton (Western Carolina) and Evan Eller (VMI).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Keltner, Jr., K, ETSU, Tallahassee, Fla.
ETSU kicker Tyler Keltner scored 10 points in the Bucs’ 24-16 setback to No. 10/12 Chattanooga on Saturday. The junior from Tallahassee, Florida, tied his career high by converting three of his four field-goal attempts, connecting from 32, 33 and 31 yards and missing from 53. He also made his lone extra-point attempt, keeping his career record perfect at 109-for-109. Keltner moved into fourth on ETSU’s career scoring list with 244 points, while his streak of consecutive made PATs is fourth in SoCon history. With 45 career field goals, he is eight makes shy of ETSU’s program record, held by JJ Jerman.
 
Other nominees: Axel Lepvreau (Furman), 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
 
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
 
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