SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Oct. 7. Chattanooga wide receiver Javin Whatley was named the Offensive Player of the Week, ETSU defensive back Sheldon Arnold II was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Western Carolina placekicker Richard McCollum was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Javin Whatley, So., WR, Chattanooga, Rockmart, Ga.
Whatley had career highs in receiving yards and catches, logging 231 yards on 11 catches for Chattanooga as the Mocs dropped a 52-50 decision to Western Carolina on Saturday. The Rockmart, Georgia, native also had one rush for six yards and six kick returns for 116 yards, finishing with a school-record 353 all-purpose yards, marking the sixth-highest total in a game in SoCon history. The sophomore caught a career-high four touchdowns from 31, 8, 11 and 32 yards out, making him the third player in school history to catch four scores in a game, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens and Bryce Nunnelly being the other two. Whatley’s record-setting day was the first time a Moc had 300-plus yards in a SoCon game. On Monday, Chattanooga remained No. 20 in the AFCA FCS Top 25 poll and moved to No. 25 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.

Other nominees: Ty James (Mercer), Jay Stanton (Samford) and Desmond Reid (Western Carolina)
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sheldon Arnold II, Jr., DB, ETSU, Loganville, Ga.
Arnold, who received the honor for the second straight week, tied a career high with 12 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, had one forced fumble, one sack, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in ETSU’s 24-6 setback against Mercer. Arnold’s forced fumble and recovery came in a scoreless game with 4:36 left in the first quarter. The junior from Loganville, Georgia, recorded his first sack of the season in the second quarter, helping force a Mercer field goal attempt.
 
Other nominees: Ken Standley (Mercer), Devin Smith (Samford) and Ed Jones IV (Western Carolina)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Richard McCollum, Gr., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C.
McCollum was successful on all seven of his PAT attempts and made the game-winning field goal in Western Carolina’s win at Chattanooga. The graduate student from Sanford, North Carolina, took the field with four seconds remaining in the contest and sank a 32-yard field goal as time expired to lift Western Carolina to victory. McCollum also had six kickoffs for 306 yards during the game, logging one touchback. The Catamounts are now ranked No. 14 in the AFCA FCS Top 25 poll and No. 9 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.

Other nominees: Teddy Wilson (ETSU), Reice Griffith (Mercer), Wilson Beaverstock (Samford) and Clayton Crile (Chattanooga)
 
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
 
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
 
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