SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played Sept. 22-24 on Monday. Samford quarterback Michael Hiers was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Bulldog defensive back Isaiah Richardson was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Western Carolina placekicker Richard McCollum was named the Special Teams Player of the Week as all three selections came from the same game. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford, Birmingham, Ala.
Samford quarterback Michael Hiers led Samford to a 35-12 win over Western Carolina on Saturday as both squads opened league play. The junior from Birmingham, Alabama, connected on 80 percent of his passes on the day, going 24-for-30 for 292 yards and four touchdowns. Hiers connected for scoring strikes with four different receivers, throwing for TDs of 20 and 34 yards in the first quarter before adding a 60-yard score in the third and a 15-yard TD pass in the fourth. Hiers, who posted a 199.09 pass efficiency rating Saturday, ranks sixth in the FCS with 12 touchdown passes this season.
 
Other nominees: Jacob Saylors (ETSU), Jace Wilson (Furman), Devron Harper (Mercer), Ailym Ford (Chattanooga), Jalynn Williams (Western Carolina) and Jimmy Weirick (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Isaiah Richardson, Sr., DB, Samford, Richmond, Texas
Samford defensive back Isaiah Richardson had eight tackles and an interception to lead a defense that kept Western Carolina’s prolific offense out of the end zone in Saturday’s 35-12 win. The senior from Richmond, Texas, had six solo stops among his eight tackles, while his first-quarter interception in the end zone thwarted the Catamounts’ first scoring threat before the Bulldogs scored on their ensuing possession. Richardson paced a defense that shut down a Western Carolina squad that had been averaging 48.7 points per game this season, including a scoring average of 67.5 points per game against FCS opponents.
 
Other nominees: Alijah Huzzie (ETSU), Jalen Miller (Furman), Cam Sims (Mercer), Devonnsha Maxwell (Chattanooga), Andreas Keaton (Western Carolina) and Micheal Mason (Wofford).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C.
Western Carolina placekicker Richard McCollum accounted for all of the Catamounts’ scoring when he connected on a career-best four field goals in the 35-12 road loss at No. 22/21 Samford. The redshirt junior from Sanford, North Carolina, hit from 20 yards just before the half to get Western Carolina on the board before adding a 24-yarder and a 30-yarder in the third quarter. McCollum capped the scoring with a 31-yard effort in the fourth quarter, moving to 6-for-6 on the season and extending his overall streak to 19 consecutive field goal makes over the past three seasons. The selection is his second of the season.
 
Other nominees: Erek Campbell (ETSU), Devin Folser (Mercer), Bradley Porcellato (Samford) and Gabe Boring (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
 
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
 
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