SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played on Sept. 16. Furman quarterback Tyler Huff was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Samford defensive back Kourtlan Marsh was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Chattanooga kicker Jude Kelley was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tyler Huff, Gr., QB, Furman, Orange Park, Fla.
Huff scored each of the Paladins’ four touchdowns in Furman’s 31-28 road win against Kennesaw State on Saturday. The graduate student went 24-for-32 through the air, completing 75 percent of his passes for 237 yards. The Orange Park, Florida, native also rushed for a team-high 79 yards on 19 carries, scoring four rushing touchdowns, which tied a school record, from 1, 28, 4 and 14 yards out. Huff completed his day accounting for 58 yards on an eight-play, 63-yard drive in the fourth quarter to set up the game-winning field goal with 21 seconds left. The Paladins remain in the top 10 in both the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls, sitting seventh in the AFCA and eighth in the Stats Perform.
Other nominees: Michael Hiers (Samford), Ailym Ford (Chattanooga) and Desmond Reid (Western Carolina)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kourtlan Marsh, Jr., DB, Samford, Warrior, Ala.
Marsh had a career-high 10 tackles, all of which were solo, one fumble recovery and an interception for Samford as the Bulldogs suffered a 45-13 setback at SEC foe Auburn on Saturday. The junior’s interception was a spectacular one-handed grab in the endzone during the second quarter, forcing a touchback for the Tigers. In the third quarter, the native of Warrior, Alabama, recovered a muffed punt at the Auburn nine-yard line, setting up a Samford touchdown three plays later. Samford is ranked 17th in the AFCA Top 25 and 20th in the Stats Perform Top 25.
Other nominees: Jordan Walker (Chattanooga) and CJ Williams (Western Carolina)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jude Kelley, Jr., K, Chattanooga, Acworth, Ga.
Kelley went 2-for-2 on field goals and was successful on all six of his PAT attempts for Chattanooga as the Mocs defeated The Citadel, 48-3, on Saturday. The junior’s field goal makes came from 33 yards out in the second quarter and 27 yards out in the third quarter, keeping him a perfect 6-for-6 on field goal attempts inside 48 yards this season. Kelley, a native of Acworth, Georgia, scored 12 points in the game, which is the most by a Mocs kicker since Aaron Sears had 13 against Samford on Oct. 23, 2021.
Other nominees: Nate Brackett (ETSU), Ian Williams (Furman), Will Thorley (Samford) and Stephen Brantley (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
Defensive
Sept. 4 Alex Oliver, Sr., DB, VMI
Sept. 11 Jordan Walker, R-So., DB, Chattanooga
Sept. 18 Kourtlan Marsh, Jr., DB, Samford
Special teams
Sept. 4 Atkins Roberts, Sr., P, Wofford
Sept. 11 Devron Harper, Sr., WR, Mercer
Sept. 18 Jude Kelley, Jr., K, Chattanooga