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 Nov. 1. Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Wofford defensive back Maximus Pulley was named the Defensive Player of the Week and the Terriers punter Cavan Craig 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 won the honor for the second consecutive week, had 434 yards of total offense, accounting for five touchdowns in Mercer’s 52-28 win at Furman. The freshman threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score, which was the first rushing touchdown of his collegiate career. The product of Rolesville, North Carolina, averaged 15.2 yards per completion in the team’s comeback win. Atkinson is second in FCS football in passing yards per game (353.43). Mercer is now ranked No. 10 in the AFCA poll and No. 12 in the Stats Perform poll.

Other nominees: Jihad Marks (The Citadel), Calvin Jones (Samford), Noah Grevious (VMI), and James Tyre (Western Carolina)

 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Maximus Pulley, Sr., DB, Wofford, Fort Worth, Texas

Pulley had seven tackles, including an assist for loss, two interceptions and a pass deflection as Wofford defeated Samford, 26-16, on Saturday. The native of Fort Worth, Texas, recorded his first interception on the Bulldogs’ second drive of the game, returning it 25 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Following the ensuing kickoff, the senior logged his second pick of the day on the opening play of the Samford drive, returning it to the 17-yard line which led to a Wofford touchdown three plays later. Pulley led a defense that had 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, four interceptions and a safety in the contest with the Bulldogs.

Other nominees: Jeremiah Holmes (The Citadel), Kaleb Hutchinson (Mercer), Donovan Grayson (Samford), and Ryan McKinnis (Western Carolina)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cavan Craig, R-Fr., P, Wofford, Charleston, S.C.
Craig punted the ball a career-high nine times in the game on Saturday. The redshirt freshman from Charleston, South Carolina, pinned Samford inside the 20-yard line five times, including a pair of kicks that were down inside the 5-yard line in the second half. Craig, who averaged 38.1 yards per punt in the contest, has had nine of his 32 punts this season downed inside the 20-yard line.

Other nominees: Reice Griffith (Mercer), Jake Garner (Samford), 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

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 

Nov. 3          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

Nov. 3          Maximus Pulley, Sr., DB, Wofford

 
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

Nov. 3          Cavan Craig, R-Fr., P, Wofford