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 Oct. 11. Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Western Carolina defensive back Ken Moore, Jr. was named the Defensive Player of the Week and ETSU wide receiver Xavier Gaillardetz 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 was 27-of-42 passes, throwing for 347 yards in Mercer’s 38-14 win at Princeton. The native of Rolesville, North Carolina, recorded touchdown passes from 2, 23 and yards out during the contest. The freshman completed passes to 11 different receivers in the contest en route to his fourth 300-plus yard passing game of the season, which is a school record. Atkinson led the Bears to their fifth straight win against Princeton, elevating Mercer to No. 16 in the AFCA poll and No. 20 in the Stats Perform poll .

Other nominees: Devontae Houston (ETSU), Taron Dickens (Western Carolina), and Ihson Jackson-Anderson (Wofford) 

 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ken Moore Jr., Jr., DB, Western Carolina, Miami, Fla.

Moore had two interceptions and a tackle for loss in Western Carolina’s 52-7 win over Furman on Saturday. In the second quarter, the junior logged his tackle for loss before returning his first pick of the day 64 yards for a touchdown with 1:38 on the clock. Moore’s touchdown was the team’s first defensive score of the season. The product of Miami, Florida, got his second interception of the day inside the Catamounts’ endzone, ending Furman’s drive and keeping the squad ahead 31-7 with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter. Western Carolina, who is on a four-game winning streak, received votes in the AFCA and Stats Perform polls.

Other nominees: William Wells (ETSU), Isaac Prince (Mercer), Kouri Crump (VMI), and Marion Smokes (Wofford)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Xavier Gaillardetz, R-Jr., WR, ETSU, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada
Gaillardetz scored ETSU’s first points of the day as the Buccaneers topped VMI, 45-10, on Saturday. Following a 3-and-out by the ETSU defense to begin the game, the redshirt junior from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada returned a punt for 80 yards for a touchdown. Gaillardetz’s return marked the first punt return touchdown for the Bucs since 2018.  

Other nominees:  Reice Griffith (Mercer) 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 

Oct. 6               Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina 

Oct. 13             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

 
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