SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played Nov. 19 on Monday. Mercer wide receiver Ty James was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Western Carolina defensive end KJ Milner was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Furman cornerback Travis Blackshear was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office and are the final selections of the 2022 season.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ty James, R-So., WR, Mercer, Conyers, Ga.
Mercer wide receiver Ty James had a record-setting day in the Bears’ 50-44, double-overtime setback at No. 9/9 Samford on Saturday. The redshirt sophomore from Conyers, Georgia, had a career-high 13 catches for a school-record 351 yards, the most in an NCAA game this season and surpassing his own program standard of 224 set last season. James also erased a SoCon record that had stood since 2004, shattering the previous mark of 280 yards. James, who added 13 yards on one carry, also set a program record with 364 all-purpose yards on the afternoon, good for fifth in a game in SoCon history, while his two touchdown catches pushed his season total to 13, yet another program record and tied for eighth in a season in SoCon history.
 
Other nominees: Tyler Huff (Furman), Michael Hiers (Samford), Sam Phillips (Chattanooga), Chance Knox (VMI), TJ Jones (Western Carolina) and Jimmy Weirick (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: KJ Milner, Sr., DE, Western Carolina, Hinesville, Ga.
Western Carolina defensive end KJ Milner had seven tackles, including a sack, and two quarterback hurries as the Catamounts toppled No. 17/15 Chattanooga on Saturday, 32-29. The Hinesville, Georgia, senior, who battled through the flu late in the week, picked up a one-yard sack on a third-and-19 play in the third quarter, forcing a Chattanooga punt. Milner, who had three solo stops and four assisted tackles in his final game for the Catamounts, paced a Western Carolina defense that helped the squad to its first win over a nationally ranked FCS opponent since 2017 and its first winning record (6-5) since 2017.
 
Other nominees: Ja’Varius Harrison (ETSU), Jack Barton (Furman), Ken Standley (Mercer), Fred Flavors (Samford), Devonnsha Maxwell (Chattanooga) and Stone Snyder (VMI).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Travis Blackshear, Sr., CB, Furman, Savannah, Ga.
Furman cornerback Travis Blackshear had an unprecedented day on special teams in the Paladins’ 63-28 win over rival Wofford on Saturday. The senior from Savannah, Georgia, scooped up two blocked field goals in the contest, returning them for a combined 98 yards, with his 65-yard return for a touchdown in the waning seconds of the third quarter going down as the first blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in program history. Blackshear also contributed five tackles and a pass breakup on the day, while Furman upped its blocked kick total to an FCS-best nine this year.
 
Other nominees: Ja’Varius Harrison (ETSU), Devron Harper (Mercer), Zach Williams (Samford), Jack Culbreath (VMI) 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
Oct. 17       Dominic Roberto, R-Jr., RB, Furman
Oct. 24       Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
Oct. 31       Jimmy Weirick, 5^th, QB, Wofford
Nov. 7        Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
Nov. 14       Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
Nov. 21       Ty James, R-So., WR, Mercer
 
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
Oct. 31       Hugh Ryan, R-Jr., FS, Furman
Nov. 7        Reuben Lowery III, So., DB, Chattanooga
Nov. 14       Braden Gilby, Sr., LB, Furman
Nov. 21       KJ Milner, Sr., DE, Western Carolina
 
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
Oct. 31       Devron Harper, Jr., WR, Mercer
Nov. 7        Jerry Rice, R-Jr., PK, VMI
Nov. 14       Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina
Nov. 21       Travis Blackshear, Sr., CB, Furman