SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference Football Players of the Week presented by Southern Recognition were awarded for all games played on Oct. 18. Samford quarterback Brady Stober was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Wofford linebacker Javario Tinch was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Chattanooga place 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: Brady Stober, Fr., QB, Samford, Hickory, N.C.
In his first collegiate start, Stober completed 79.1 percent of his passes, going 34-of-43 for 285 yards and tossing three touchdowns in a 24-22 road win at VMI. The freshman’s touchdown throws were from 15, 22 and 27 yards out. The native of Hickory, North Carolina, ended the contest leading the Bulldogs on a 14-play, 67-yard drive in the final minutes, setting up Jake Garner’s game-winning field goal. Stober was named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week on Monday for his performance against the Keydets.
Other nominees: Devontae Houston (ETSU), Camden Orth (Chattanooga), Owen Sweeney (VMI), Taron Dickens (Western Carolina), and Ihson Jackson-Anderson (Wofford)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Javario Tinch, So., LB, Wofford, Calhoun Falls, S.C.
Tinch had five tackles, including a shared sack, and an interception in Wofford’s 31-13 victory versus Furman. The sophomore from Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, returned his interception, which was the first of his career, 66 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, giving the Terriers a 28-13 lead with 12:06 left in the game. Tinch also recorded a pair of quarterback hurries against Paladins.
Other nominees: Ty Anderson (ETSU), Jaden Mosley (Samford), Amaje Parker (VMI), and Jordan Thompson (Western Carolina)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jude Kelley, R-Sr., PK, Chattanooga, Acworth, Ga.
Kelley scored 12 points in Chattanooga’s 42-38 comeback win over ETSU on Saturday. The redshirt senior went 6-for-6 on PATs and scored a touchdown on an 8-yard run on a fake field goal. The Acworth, Georgia, product’s touchdown marked the first score on a fake field goal for the Mocs since 2013. Kelley also nearly kicked a successful onside kick with 2:29 left in the game, a kick that was recovered by Chattanooga before the call was reversed following a review.
Other nominees: Ewan Johnson (ETSU), Jake Garner (Samford), Marcus Trout (Western Carolina) and Cavan Craig (Wofford)
2025 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 1 Devontae Houston, Gr., RB, ETSU
Sept. 8 Javonte Graves-Billips, Gr., WR, The Citadel
Sept. 15 Trey Hedden, So., QB, Furman
Sept. 22 Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina
Sept. 29 CJ Miller, R-Jr., RB, Mercer
Oct. 6 Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina
Oct. 13 Braden Atkinson, Fr., QB, Mercer
Oct. 20 Brady Stober, Fr., QB, Samford
Defensive
Sept. 1 Taylen Blaylock, Gr., DB, Furman
Sept. 8 CJ Coombes, So., DB, Wofford
Sept. 15 Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, Furman
Sept. 22 Julian Fox, R-So., LB, Mercer
Sept. 29 Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, Furman
Oct. 6 Jordan Miller, R-Fr., DB, Furman
Oct. 13 Ken Moore Jr., Jr., DB, Western Carolina
Oct. 20 Javario Tinch, So., LB, Wofford
Special teams
Sept. 1 Ian Williams, Gr., PK, Furman
Sept. 8 Bradlee Jones, Jr., DB, The Citadel
Sept. 15 AJ Little, R-So., WR, Chattanooga
Sept. 22 Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, Mercer
Sept. 29 Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, Mercer
Oct. 6 Ben Shrewsbury, Jr., K/P, VMI
Oct. 13 Xavier Gaillardetz, R-Jr., WR, ETSU
Oct. 20 Jude Kelley, R-Sr., PK, Chattanooga