SoCon names football players of the week

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. 20. Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Mercer linebacker Julian Fox was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Bears kicker Reice Griffith was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina, Miami, Fla.
Dickens had one of the best passing games in SoCon history during Western Carolina’s 50-35 victory over Samford. The redshirt sophomore went 35-for-46 through the air, finishing with 582 yards and a career-high six touchdown passes. His 582 passing yards, which were the second-most in conference history, and six passing scores set Whitmore Stadium records. The native of Miami, Florida, also ran for 42 yards, giving him a program-record 624 yards of total offense. Dickens’ six touchdown passes also matched a Catamount record for one game.

Other nominees: Ephraim Floyd (ETSU), Braden Atkinson (Mercer), Quincy Crittendon (Samford), Ryan Merklinger (Chattanooga), and Owen Sweeney (VMI)

 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Julian Fox, R-So., LB, Mercer, Cordele, Ga.
Fox had eight tackles, including five solo stops, and an interception in the team’s 38-0 shutout win at The Citadel. The redshirt sophomore of Cordele, Georgia, logged his first career interception in the fourth quarter at the 10:01 mark. Behind its strong defensive effort, Mercer is now ranked No. 23 in the AFCA Coaches poll . Fox is second on Mercer in tackles this season with 18.

 
Other nominees: Mike Jenkins, Jr. (ETSU), Jaden Mosley (Samford), Zion Rutledge (Chattanooga), and Hasaan Sykes (Western Carolina)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, Mercer, Pace, Fla.
Griffith scored eight points in Mercer’s victory. The product of Pace, Florida, booted a career-long 51-yard field goal in the first quarter, which matched a school record. The junior was also 5-for-5 on extra-point kicks and averaged 62.7 yards on five kickoffs, four of which resulted in touchbacks. Griffith is a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals over 40 yards this season.

 
Other nominees: William Wells (ETSU), Jake Garner (Samford), Heath Jehu (Chattanooga), Ben Shrewsbury (VMI), and Marcus Trout (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
Sept. 22            Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina 

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

 
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