SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Oct. 14. Furman quarterback Tyler Huff was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Chattanooga edge rusher Jay Person was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Mocs punter/kicker Clayton Crile was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Huff, Gr., QB, Furman, Orange Park, Fla.
Huff, who received the honor on Sept. 18, threw a pair of touchdowns in Furman’s 27-21 road win versus Samford on Saturday. The graduate student went 19-for-28 through the air, completing 67.9 percent of his passes for 205 yards. Both of Huff’s touchdown passes came in the second quarter, one from two yards out and the other from one yard out. The Orange Park, Florida, product also rushed for 79 yards on 17 carries in the contest. Huff has led the Paladins to 10 straight SoCon victories and an 8-1 record in the squad’s last nine FCS road games. Furman remains in the top five in both the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls, sitting third in the AFCA poll and fourth in the Stats Perform poll.

Other nominees: Bryson Irby (ETSU), Ty James (Mercer), Brendan Jenkins (Samford), Jamoi Mayes (Chattanooga) and Hunter Rice (VMI)
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jay Person, Sr., EDGE, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Tenn.
Person had six total tackles, including four tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble as Chattanooga defeated Mercer, 22-10, in Macon, Georgia, on Saturday. The four tackles behind the line of scrimmage tied a career high for Person and were the most by any player in the conference this season. The senior from Cleveland, Tennessee, logged his sack and forced fumble on the same play when he stripped Mercer’s Carter Peevy with under four minutes left to play in the contest. Person’s performance led a Chattanooga defense that had a season-high three takeaways and allowed zero rushing yards to Mercer, a team that came into the game averaging 160 yards on the ground. The Mocs are now ranked No. 20 in the AFCA Top 25 poll and No. 21 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.
 
Other nominees: Sheldon Arnold II (ETSU), Jack Burton (Furman), Lance Wise (Mercer), Noah Martin (Samford) and Josh Knapp (VMI)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clayton Crile, Sr., P/K, Chattanooga, Duncan, S.C.
Crile was successful on all five of his field goal attempts, connecting from 32, 37, 37, 45 and 27 yards, in Chattanooga’s win at Mercer. The native of Duncan, South Carolina, also handled the kickoff and punting responsibilities for the Mocs, accounting for 350 yards on seven kickoffs, including two touchbacks, and punting five times for 244 yards, three of which that were downed inside the 20-yard line. The senior’s performance set new school records for field goals made in a game and points (16). Crile’s field-goal makes marked the first time this season that an FCS player made five in game. Crile was also named the FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.

Other nominees: Ewan Johnson (ETSU), Axel Lepvreau (Furman), Reice Griffith (Mercer) and Will Thorley (Samford)
 
2023 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 4             Michael Hiers, Gr., QB, Samford
Sept. 11            Desmond Reid, So., RB, Western Carolina
Sept. 18            Tyler Huff, Gr., QB, Furman
Sept. 25            Cole Gonzales, So., QB, Western Carolina
Oct. 2               Desmond Reid, So., RB, Western Carolina
Oct. 9               Javin Whatley, So., WR, Chattanooga
Oct. 16             Tyler Huff, Gr., QB, Furman

Defensive
Sept. 4             Alex Oliver, Sr., DB, VMI
Sept. 11            Jordan Walker, R-So., DB, Chattanooga
Sept. 18            Kourtlan Marsh, Jr., DB, Samford
Sept. 25            Alex Mitchell, So., LB, Chattanooga
Oct. 2              Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., DB, ETSU
Oct. 9               Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., DB, ETSU
Oct. 16             Jay Person, Sr., EDGE, Chattanooga

Special teams
Sept. 4             Atkins Roberts, Sr., P, Wofford
Sept. 11            Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer
Sept. 18            Jude Kelley, Jr., K, Chattanooga
Sept. 25            Jack Culbreath, Sr., P, VMI
Oct. 2               Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer
Oct. 9               Richard McCollum, Gr., PK, Western Carolina
Oct. 16             Clayton Crile, Sr., P/K, Chattanooga