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. 22. Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Wofford defensive lineman Brandon Maina was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Catamounts kicker Bryan McCollum 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 accounted for four touchdowns in Western Carolina’s 48-6 win over VMI. The native of Miami, Florida, logged 362 yards of total offense, throwing for 330 yards and rushing for 32 yards. The redshirt sophomore had touchdown passes of 12, 1 and 22 yards, along with a 3-yard score on the ground, marking his first touchdown run of the season. Dickens broke the SoCon’s single-season record for touchdown passes in the contest, bringing his season total to 38 to top the mark of 36 set by Samford’s Micheal Hiers in 2022 and Devlin Hodges in 2016. Dickens leads the FCS in passing yards (3,508).

Other nominees: Devontae Houston (ETSU), Adjatay Dabbs (Mercer), and JT Fayard (Wofford)

 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brandon Maina, Sr., DL, Wofford, Hiram, Ga.

Maina had nine tackles, including 2.5 sacks, one quarterback hurry and a forced fumble in Wofford’s 35-13 win against Chattanooga. The senior logged two of his sacks in the first half and the shared sack in the fourth quarter. The product of Hiram, Georgia, led a defense that held the Mocs scoreless in the second half. Maina finished the season with 11 sacks, which is ranked fifth in program history.

Other nominees: Ty Anderson (ETSU), Isaac Prince (Mercer), Jaden Mosley (Samford), and Jordan Thompson (Western Carolina)
  
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bryan McCollum, Fr., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C.
McCollum, who was making his collegiate debut at VMI, scored 12 points on Saturday. The freshman was 6-for-6 on PAT attempts and made field goals from 24 and 29 yards out. The native of Sanford, North Carolina, is the younger brother of former Catamount kicker Richard McCollum, who finished second in WCU's all-time record books with 300 career points.

Other nominees: Cavan Craig (Wofford)

 
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 

Nov. 17             Braden Atkinson, Fr., QB, Mercer 

Nov. 24             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

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

Nov. 17             Andrew Zock, So., DE, Mercer

Nov. 24             Brandon Maina, Sr., DL, 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

Nov. 17             Jackson Crosby, Gr., WR, ETSU

Nov. 24             Bryan McCollum, Fr., PK, Western Carolina