SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Sept. 9. Western Carolina running back Desmond Reid was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Chattanooga defensive back Jordan Walker was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Mercer wide receiver Devron Harper was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Desmond Reid, So., RB, Western Carolina, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Reid rushed for 170 yards on 27 carries and caught two passes accounting for 13 yards in Western Carolina’s 30-7 upset of Samford, who was ranked in the top 10 in both the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls, on Saturday. The sophomore rushed for a touchdown from two yards out in the fourth quarter with 8:02 remaining to clinch the win for the Catamounts. The native of Miami Gardens, Florida, averaged 6.3 yards per carry, spearheading a Catamount offense that held the football over 41 minutes, boasting a 41:09 to 18:51 edge in time of possession. Reid’s big day helped Western Carolina receive five points in the AFCA FCS Top 25 Poll and 81 points in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll on Monday.
Other nominees: Baron May (ETSU), Devron Harper (Mercer), Ty King (Samford), Chase Artopoeus (Chattanooga) and Ryan Ingram (Wofford)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jordan Walker, R-So., DB, Chattanooga, Lafayette, Ala.
Walker had a career-best 11 tackles, including one sack and two tackles for loss, as Chattanooga defeated Kennesaw State, 27-20, in its home opener. The redshirt sophomore was part of a defense that held Kennesaw State to zero first-half points for the first time in program history, which was punctuated by Walker’s sack with 1:23 on the clock in the second quarter. The Lafayette, Alabama, product’s two tackles for loss against KSU eclipsed his total from the 2022 season, which was 1.5. The Mocs received votes in the AFCA Top 25 poll on Monday.
Other nominees: Stephen Scott (ETSU), Ken Standley (Mercer), Noah Martin (Samford), Jayelin Davis (Western Carolina) and Maximus Pulley (Wofford)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer, Conyers, Ga.
Mercer wide receiver Devron Harper had 322 all-purpose yards as the Bears rolled to a 48-22 win over Morehead State on Saturday. The highlight of the day for the native of Conyers, Georgia, was his 53-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Harper finished the day with 76 yards on two punt returns and four kickoff returns for 74 yards. The senior also added 72 yards rushing on three carries and 100 receiving yards on six catches.
Other nominees: Nate Brackett (ETSU), Will Thorley (Samford), Jude Kelley (Chattanooga), Richard McCollum (Western Carolina) and Kyle Parsons (Wofford)
2023 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 4 Michael Hiers, Gr., QB, Samford
Sept. 11 Desmond Reid, So., RB, Western Carolina
Defensive
Sept. 4 Alex Oliver, Sr., DB, VMI
Sept. 11 Jordan Walker, R-So., DB, Chattanooga
Special teams
Sept. 4 Atkins Roberts, Sr., P, Wofford
Sept. 11 Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer