SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played Sept. 17 on Monday. Chattanooga quarterback Preston Hutchinson was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman free safety Hugh Ryan was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Paladin placekicker Ian Williams was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Preston Hutchinson, Sr., QB, Chattanooga, Mason, Ohio
Quarterback Preston Hutchinson earned his second straight SoCon weekly honor after accounting for five touchdowns in Chattanooga’s 44-14 win over North Alabama on Saturday. The senior from Mason, Ohio, completed 22 of his 31 pass attempts for 303 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 10 yards and two more scores. Hutchinson, who turned in a pass efficiency rating of 178.55, became the first Moc to total five TDs since Alejandro Bennifield in 2018 and is the first UTC quarterback to rush for multiple touchdowns in consecutive games since Jacob Huesman did so in 2015. Hutchinson is the first Mocs QB to throw for 300 yards since Nick Tiano in 2018.
 
Other nominees: Einaj Carter (ETSU), Tyler Huff (Furman), Ty James (Mercer), Chandler Smith (Samford), Chance Knox (VMI) and Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hugh Ryan, R-Jr., FS, Furman, Irmo, S.C.
Furman free safety Hugh Ryan had eight tackles and a pair of takeaways as the Paladins topped No. 19/18 ETSU on Saturday, 27-14. The redshirt junior from Irmo, South Carolina, intercepted a pass on the Bucs’ first series, setting up a field goal that gave Furman an early 3-0 lead. In the second quarter, he forced a fumble that was recovered by the Paladins, who again turned the turnover into a field goal. Ryan, who had seven solo tackles, was part of a defense that held ETSU to just 80 rushing yards and a 50-percent completion rate as the Paladins handed the defending SoCon champion just its second night-game loss at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium.
 
Other nominees: Alijah Huzzie (ETSU), Isaac Dowling (Mercer), Nathan East (Samford), Ty Boeck (Chattanooga), Stone Snyder (VMI) and Chris Morgan (Western Carolina).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ian Williams, R-So., PK, Furman, Charlotte, N.C.
Furman placekicker Ian Williams booted a pair of long field goals and kicked off six times in the Paladins’ 27-14 win at No. 19/18 ETSU on Saturday. The redshirt sophomore from Charlotte, North Carolina, opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal early in the first quarter. In the second quarter, with ETSU leading 7-3, Williams dialed up another long-distance field goal, this time connecting from 43 yards. On his six kickoffs, Williams recorded five touchbacks and averaged 62.3 yards per kick.
 
Other nominees: Trey Turk (Mercer), Bradley Porcellato (Samford), John Prince (Chattanooga) 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
 
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
 
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