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. 8. Chattanooga quarterback Battle Alberson was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Wofford defensive back Maximus Pulley was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Mercer place 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: Battle Alberson, R-Fr., QB, Chattanooga, Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Alberson won his first career start with a record-setting day in Chattanooga’s 45-28 win over Furman. The native of Gulf Breeze, Florida, set a school freshman record with 362 yards of total offense, throwing for 277 yards and rushing for 85 more while connecting on four touchdown passes. The redshirt freshman, who led the league with a 233.9 passer rating this past Saturday, led the Mocs offense that was 8 of 16 on first down, converting four on the ground and two through the air. Alberson was named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week on Monday.

Other nominees: Devontae Houston (ETSU), CJ Miller (Mercer), Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) and JT Fayard (Wofford)

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

Pulley, who won the honor for the second straight week, had five tackles and two interceptions as Wofford topped VMI, 52-10, on Saturday. The senior’s first pick was on the first play of the second quarter, which he returned 18 yards to set up a Wofford field goal. The native of Fort Worth, Texas, returned his second interception of the day for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, giving the Terriers a 45-7 lead. In the last two weeks, Pulley has four interceptions and two touchdowns.

Other nominees: Trevor Moffitt (ETSU), Julian Fox (Mercer), Ky Tayo (Chattanooga), and Samaurie Dukes (Western Carolina)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, Mercer, Pace, Fla.
Griffith, who won the honor for the third time this season, scored 11 points as Mercer won its top-25 matchup at Western Carolina, 49-47, on Saturday. The junior went 5-for-5 on PAT attempts and connected on field goals from 24 and 37 yards out. The 37-yarder was the game-winning field goal with under two minutes left. The product of Pace, Florida, also kicked four touchbacks on nine kickoffs. Mercer is ranked No. 8 in both the AFCA and Stats Perform polls.

Other nominees: Jude Kelley (Chattanooga), Ben Shrewsbury (VMI), and Stephen Brantley (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 

Nov. 10             Battle Alberson, R-Fr., QB, Chattanooga 

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

Nov. 10             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

Nov. 10             Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, Mercer