SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Oct. 28. Mercer quarterback Carter Peevy was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Chattanooga linebacker Kobe Joseph was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Furman kicker Ian Williams was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Carter Peevy, R-So., QB, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Peevy accounted for three touchdowns, one passing and two rushing, in Mercer’s 45-38 road upset at then 10th-ranked Western Carolina on Saturday. The redshirt sophomore went 18-for-28 through the air, completing 64.3 percent of his passes for 212 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Peevy also rushed for 38 yards on 16 carries, scoring touchdowns from 2 and 4 yards out. The Lawrenceville, Georgia, native’s performance led to Mercer moving into the Stats Perform Top 25 poll on Monday, coming in at the No. 25 spot. The Bears also received votes in the AFCA Top 25 poll.
Other nominees: Jay Stanton (Samford), Gino Appleberry (Chattanooga), Hunter Rice (VMI) and Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kobe Joseph, Jr., LB, Chattanooga, Sharpsburg, Pa.
Joseph had a season-high 13 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and an interception as Chattanooga defeated VMI, 24-23, on the road. The junior from Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, caught his second pick of the season in the first quarter, returning the ball 15 yards to the VMI 26. Four plays later, the Mocs scored their second touchdown of the game to take a 14-0 lead. Chattanooga is now ranked No. 13 in the AFCA Top 25 poll and No. 14 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.
Other nominees: Teddy Wilson (ETSU), Jack Barton (Furman), Lance Wise (Mercer), Jaden Mosley (Samford), Antoine Williams (Western Carolina)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ian Williams, Jr., K, Furman, Charlotte, N.C.
Williams was successful on all three of his field goal attempts in Furman’s 16-8 homecoming win over ETSU on Saturday. The junior also handled the kickoff duties for the Paladins, logging touchbacks on four of his five kickoffs during the game. Williams’ field goal makes came from 23, 52 and 32 yards out. The Charlotte, North Carolina, product’s 52-yarder in the first quarter was a career long and marked the fifth-longest field goal kick in Furman history. The Paladins are now ranked second in the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls.
Other nominees: Teddy Wilson (ETSU), Devron Harper (Mercer), Wilson Beaverstock (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
Oct. 30 Carter Peevy, R-So., QB, Mercer
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
Oct. 30 Kobe Jospeh, Jr., LB, 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
Oct. 23 Jack Culbreath, Sr., P, VMI
Oct. 30 Ian Williams, Jr., K, Furman