SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Nov. 4. Furman quarterback Carson Jones was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Mercer linebacker Ken Standley was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Paladins running back Wayne Anderson, Jr. was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Carson Jones, R-Fr., QB, Furman, Maryville, Tenn.
Jones threw two touchdowns after coming off the bench for second-ranked Furman in the Paladins’ 17-14 win at then 13th-ranked Chattanooga on Saturday. The redshirt freshman went 14-for-27 through the air for 139 yards, including touchdown passes from 27 and nine yards out. Furman’s starting quarterback, Tyler Huff, left the game in the second quarter, bringing Jones into the game with the Paladins up 3-0. The Maryville, Tennessee, native threw his first touchdown less than a minute into the fourth quarter, giving Furman a 10-7 lead. Following a response by the Mocs that made the score 14-10, Jones led a nine-play, 50-yard drive, which culminated in his second touchdown pass of the game. Jones became the first Furman freshman quarterback to enter the game and deliver a game-winning score since 2006. The Paladins remained ranked No. 2 in the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls on Monday.
Other nominees: Trey Foster (ETSU), Al Wooten II (Mercer), Javin Whatley (Chattanooga), Hunter Rice (VMI) and Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) and Ryan Ingram (Wofford)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ken Standley, Jr., LB, Mercer, Waycross, Ga.
Standley had a team-best nine tackles, including seven solo and one tackle for loss, and an interception as Mercer defeated The Citadel, 38-16, on the road. The junior from Waycross, Georgia, opened the scoring for the contest with a 27-yard pick-6 on the third offensive play of the game. Standley’s tackle for loss in the contest came on the play prior to his interception return. Mercer is now ranked No. 23 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll and the Bears received votes in the AFCA Top 25 poll.
Other nominees: Sheldon Arnold II (ETSU), Jeremiah Jackson (Furman), Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga), Eric Rankin (VMI) and Andreas Keaton (Western Carolina)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wayne Anderson Jr, Gr., RB, Furman, Proper, Texas
Anderson blocked a punt and caught the game-winning touchdown in Furman’s triumph over Chattanooga. The Proper, Texas, product also returned a kickoff for 23 yards and had 18 rushing yards. The graduate student’s blocked punt came with 44 seconds left in the first quarter, which set up a 37-yard field goal in the opening minutes of the second quarter. The field goal put Furman ahead 3-0, proving to be the difference on the scoreboard for the Paladins. Anderson’s touchdown grab came with 1:44 left to play in regulation on Furman’s game-winning drive, clinching at least a share of the SoCon regular-season crown for the Paladins and securing the squad the conference’s automatic qualifier into the FCS playoffs.
Other nominees: Reice Griffith (Mercer) 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
Nov. 6 Carson Jones, R-Fr., 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
Oct. 23 Evan DiMaggio, Jr., ILB, Furman
Oct. 30 Kobe Jospeh, Jr., LB, Chattanooga
Nov. 6 Ken Standley, Jr., LB Mercer
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