SoCon names football players of the week
Furman and Chattanooga players honored
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference Football Players of the Week presented by Southern Recognition were awarded for all games played on Sept. 13. Furman quarterback Trey Hedden was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Paladins defensive lineman Joshua Stoneking was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Chattanooga wide receiver AJ Little was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Trey Hedden, So., QB, Furman, Tampa, Fla.
Hedden completed 26-of-35 passes, throwing for a career-high 314 yards and two touchdowns in Furman’s 28-24 road win against Campbell on Saturday. The sophomore led the Paladins to back-to-back scoring drives in the fourth quarter, overcoming a 24-18 deficit. The Tampa, Florida, native’s first touchdown pass was a 24-yard strike in the second quarter, and the second was the go-ahead score to Evan James, who was named the FCS National Freshman Player of the Week on Monday, from 30 yards out with 4:50 remaining in the game. Hedden’s completion percentage (.731) this season leads the SoCon and is third in the FCS.
Other nominees: Jacolby Criswell (ETSU), Braden Atkinson (Mercer), Torrey Ward (Samford), Camden Orth (Chattanooga), Collin Shannon (VMI) and James Tyre (Western Carolina)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, Furman, Raleigh, N.C.
Stoneking had six tackles, including 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in the squad’s win over Campbell. The redshirt sophomore, who completed the contest with 4.5 tackles for loss, logged his forced fumble on a sack in the fourth quarter on the third play of Campbell’s drive following the Paladins’ late touchdown. The native of Raleigh, North Carolina, clinched the win for Furman with a sack on fourth down with 16 seconds left in the game. Stoneking is second in the FCS in sacks per game (1.50).
Other nominees: William Wells (ETSU), Andrew Zock (Mercer), Jaden Mosley (Samford), KJ Sejour (Chattanooga), Stephen Dean III (VMI), Jordan Thompson (Western Carolina) and Eli Campbell (Wofford)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: AJ Little, R-So., WR, Chattanooga, Macon, Miss.
Little returned a punt for a touchdown in the first quarter of Chattanooga’s 63-0 rout of Stetson in the team’s home opener on Saturday. The product of Macon, Mississippi, finished the game with three returns for 65 yards. The redshirt sophomore’s return score, which covered 59 yards and put the Mocs ahead 14-0, was the school’s first since the 2014 season.
Other nominees: Ewan Johnson (ETSU), John McConnell (Mercer) and Dominic Dutton (Western Carolina)
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
Defensive
Sept. 1 Taylen Blaylock, Gr., DB, Furman
Sept. 8 CJ Coombes, So., DB, Wofford
Sept. 15 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
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