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. 27. Mercer running back CJ Miller was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman defensive lineman Joshua Stoneking 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: CJ Miller, R-Jr., RB, Mercer, Gadsden, Ala.
Miller rushed for 172 yards on 29 carries, scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns in Mercer’s 38-34 comeback win over ETSU on Saturday. Both of the redshirt junior’s scores came from 1-yard out, including the go-ahead touchdown with 5:40 left in the contest. The native of Gadsden, Alabama, also caught four passes for 41 yards in the game. Miller’s 172 rushing yards were the highest output by any SoCon player on the ground this season. Miller was also named the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Bucs.

Other nominees: Quentin Hayes (The Citadel), Cade McNamara (ETSU), Trey Hedden (Furman), and Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) 

 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, Furman, Raleigh, N.C.
Stoneking, who also won the honor on Sept. 15, logged six tackles, including two sacks, and a blocked field goal in Furman’s 31-13 road win against Samford. The product of Raleigh, North Carolina, recorded his blocked field goal on the final play of the first half, keeping the Paladins’ lead at 21-7. The redshirt sophomore also batted a pass in the game’s final minute, leading to an interception by Garrison Butler at the Furman 14-yard line to end Samford’s final drive of the contest. Stoneking currently leads FCS football in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (10.5).

 
Other nominees: Cale Williams (The Citadel), Jivon Oggs (ETSU), Andrew Zock (Mercer), Jaden Mosley (Samford), and Jordan Thompson (Western Carolina)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, Mercer, Pace, Fla.
Griffith, who won the honor for the second consecutive week, went 6-for-6 on kick attempts, including a 49-yard field goal in the opening quarter of Mercer’s win. The junior from Pace, Florida, went 5-for-5 on extra-point kicks and logged four touchbacks on seven kickoffs. Griffith is a perfect 4-fot-4 on field goals over 40 yards this season. Mercer is now ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Coaches poll .

Other nominees: Ewan Johnson (ETSU) 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 
Sept. 29            CJ Miller, R-Jr., RB, 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

 
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