SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Oct. 21. Samford running back Jay Stanton was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman inside linebacker Evan DiMaggio was named the Defensive Player of the Week and VMI punter Jack Culbreath was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jay Stanton, Sr., RB, Samford, Crestview, Fla.
Stanton rushed for 146 yards on 21 carries as Samford defeated VMI, 27-14, on Saturday. The senior scored two touchdowns from 32 and 36 yards out, which were his longest runs of the season. Stanton’s performance was his third 100-yard game of the year, all of which came in conference contests. The Crestview, Florida, native is second in the SoCon rushing yards (584) and total touchdowns (9).
Other nominees: Tyler Huff (Furman), Carter Peevy (Mercer) and Jamoi Mayes (Chattanooga)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Evan DiMaggio, Jr., ILB, Furman, Buford, Ga.
DiMaggio had a team-high 10 tackles, including two sacks, as Furman won its top-10 showdown at then eighth-ranked Western Carolina 29-17. The Buford, Georgia, native headlined a defensive effort by the Paladins that held one of the top offenses in FCS football to 353 yards, which is nearly 200 yards lower than the Catamounts’ season average. DiMaggio’s first sack came in the first quarter, the first sack that Western Carolina has given up to an FCS opponent this season. The junior’s second sack of the game came in the fourth quarter on the team’s final series of the contest. The Paladins are now ranked third in the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls.
Other nominees: Solomon Zubairu (Mercer), Jaden Mosley (Samford), Jay Person (Chattanooga) and Va Lealaimatafao (Western Carolina)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jack Culbreath, Sr., P, VMI, Charlottesville, Va.
Culbreath, who received the honor on Sept. 25, had a total of seven punts for the Keydets on Saturday. The senior averaged 48.1 yards per punt and handled the kickoff duties in the game, where he kicked two touchbacks on three opportunities. In the third quarter, the Charlottesville, Virginia, native booted a career-high 76-yard punt, which was downed at the 9-yard line. Culbreath is currently ranked third in all of FCS football in yards per punt (44.9).
Other nominees: Reice Griffith (Mercer), Will Thorley (Samford), Clayton Crile (Chattanooga) and Richard McCollum (Western Carolina)
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
Oct. 23 Jay Stanton, Sr., RB, Samford
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
Oct. 23 Evan DiMaggio, Jr., ILB, Furman
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
Oct. 23 Jack Culbreath, Sr., P, VMI