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. 25. Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman defensive lineman Joshua Stoneking was named the Defensive Player of the Week and the Paladins kicker Ian Williams was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Braden Atkinson, Fr., QB, Mercer, Rolesville, N.C.
Atkinson, who also won the honor on Oct. 13, threw for a school record 533 yards, connecting on 29-of-35 passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions in Mercer’s 62-0 win over VMI. The freshman’s touchdown passes were from 75, 32, 59, 84 and 51 yards out. The native of Rolesville, North Carolina, completed passes to 10 different receivers, averaging 18.4 yards per completion. Atkinson’s performance led to him being named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday. Atkinson is now second in FCS football in completing percentage (.722) and passing yards per game (342.2). Mercer is now ranked No. 13 in AFCA poll and No. 15 in the Stats Perform poll.
Other nominees: Jihad Marks (The Citadel), Devontae Houston (ETSU), and Camden Orth (Chattanooga)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, Furman, Raleigh, N.C.
Stoneking, who also won the honor for the third time this season, had four tackles, including two sacks, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble in Furman’s 24-14 win against The Citadel. The product of Raleigh, North Carolina, preserved the team’s lead with a strip sack in the fourth quarter with 1:04 left, ending the Bulldogs’ final rally and allowing the Paladins to run the clock out. The redshirt senior anchored a defense that held The Citadel to just 133 rushing yards, which is 90 yards below its season average. Stoneking currently leads FCS football in sacks (12.5) and tackles for loss (18.0).
Other nominees: Ty Anderson (ETSU), Tommy Bliss (Mercer), and CJ Smith (Chattanooga)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ian Williams, Gr., PK, Furman, Charlotte, N.C.
Williams, who also won the honor on Sept. 1, scored 10 points while handling all the kicking duties for Furman on Saturday. The graduate student was 3-for-3 on field goals, connecting from 45, 36 and 21 yards out in the first half to give the Paladins a 9-0 lead at halftime. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native punted the ball five times for 208 yards, with three of his kicks being downed inside the 20-yard line. Williams also logged five touchbacks on six kickoffs in the contest.
Other nominees: Reice Griffith (Mercer), A.J. Little (Chattanooga) 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
Oct. 27 Braden Atkinson, Fr., QB, Mercer
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
Oct. 27 Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, Furman
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
Oct. 27 Ian Williams, Gr., PK, Furman