SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Nov. 11. Western Carolina quarterback Cole Gonzales was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman defensive end Luke Clark was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Catamounts kicker Richard McCollum was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cole Gonzales, So., QB, Western Carolina, Ocala, Fla.
Gonzales, who won the honor on Sept. 25, accounted for five Catamount touchdowns as Western Carolina defeated ETSU, 58-7, in the "Blue Ridge Border Battle" at home on Saturday. The sophomore went 25-for-38 through the air, completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 363 yards. Gonzales tied his career high with five touchdown passes in the game, tossing scores from 40, 38, 5, 31 and 6 yards out. The Ocala, Florida, native leads FCS football in passing touchdowns (28) and is in the top five in passing yards (2,781) and passing efficiency (167.3). The Catamounts are now ranked No. 18 in the AFCA Top 25 and No. 14 in the Stats Perform Top 25.
 
Other nominees: Carson Jones (Furman), Carter Peevy (Mercer), Michael Hiers (Samford) and Ryan Ingram (Wofford)
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Luke Clark, R-Jr., DE, Furman, Louisville, Ky.
Clark headlined a dominant defensive performance for Furman as the Paladins’ topped VMI, 37-3, to clinch their first outright SoCon regular-season title since 1990. The redshirt junior had three tackles, two solo, two forced fumbles, one quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery. Both of the Louisville, Kentucky, product’s solo tackles were strip-sacks, accounting for 20 yards. Clark’s performance helped the Furman defense limit VMI to 30 rushing yards as the Keydets came into the contest with 120-plus rushing yards in their last four games. Furman remains ranked No. 2 in the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls.
 
Other nominees: Solomon Zubairu (Mercer), Noah Martin (Samford), Samaurie Dukes (Western Carolina) and John Michael DiRoberto (Wofford)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Richard McCollum, Gr., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C.
McCollum, who won the award on Oct. 9, was successful on all seven of his PAT attempts and was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals for Western Carolina. The graduate student’s career-high 16 points is tied for the second-most by an FCS kicker this season. The Sanford, North Carolina, native is now second in program history for career scoring and enters the 2023 regular-season finale just eight points shy of the program's all-time leading scorer Kirk Roach. McCollum was also named FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
 
Other nominees: Ian Williams (Furman), Devron Harper (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
Oct. 23             Jay Stanton, Sr., RB, Samford
Oct. 30             Carter Peevy, R-So., QB, Mercer
Nov. 6              Carson Jones, R-Fr., QB, Furman
Nov. 13             Cole Gonzales, So., QB, Western Carolina

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
Nov. 6              Ken Standley, Jr., LB Mercer
Nov. 13             Luke Clark, R-Jr., DE, 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
Oct. 30             Ian Williams, Jr., K, Furman
Nov. 6              Wayne Anderson Jr, Gr., RB, Furman
Nov. 13             Richard McCollum, Gr., PK, Western Carolina