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. 12. Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tre’ Holloway was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman cornerback Caleb Easterling was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Holloway was also named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tre’ Holloway, Gr., WR/RS, Tennessee Tech, Washington, D.C.

Holloway finished with 257 all-purpose yards for Tennessee Tech as the Golden Eagles topped Samford, 45-19, on Saturday. A product of the nation’s capital, Holloway scored a pair of receiving touchdowns and ran for another score. Both of the graduate student’s scores through the air went for over 40 yards, with the first coming from 48 yards out in the first quarter, and the other in the second quarter covering 43 yards. For the game, he had 124 receiving yards on six catches. Holloway 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was his only rush of the game.

Other nominees: Ben Croasdale (Furman), Travion Solomon (Mercer), Kevin Lalin (Chattanooga), and Lex Thomas (Western Carolina)
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Caleb Easterling, So., CB, Furman, Richmond Hill, Ga.
Easterling headlined a Furman defense that led the way in the Paladins’ 20-13 road win over No. 14/18 Mercer, ending the Bears’ 12-game SoCon winning streak. The sophomore logged seven tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup. The native of Richmond Hill, Georgia, recorded his first interception in the second quarter at the Furman 25-yard line with 22 seconds on the clock, stalling a late scoring threat from Mercer and keeping the score tied at 3-3. The second pick came with 1:22 left in the third quarter at the Mercer 46-yard line, which led to a touchdown pass on the next play by the Paladins.

Other nominees: Jyarius Carter (Mercer), Zion Rutledge (Chattanooga), Hudson Tucker (Tennessee Tech), Andre Jackson Jr. (Western Carolina) and Wyatt Ward (Wofford)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tre’ Holloway, Gr., WR/RS, Tennessee Tech, Washington, D.C.
Holloway finished with 129 return yards in the contest with Samford, including a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown. Holloway’s punt return touchdown is the third-longest in school history. For his performance over the weekend, Holloway was named the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday. Holloway currently leads the SoCon in all-purpose yards per game (132.0).

 
Other nominees: Nathan Chapman (Furman), Simon Zeidan (Mercer), Ty Ippolito (Samford), Bryan McCollum (Western Carolina), and Cillian Bonner (Wofford)
 
2026 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Aug. 31             Lex Thomas, Jr., QB, Western Carolina

Sept. 7             Gavin Garcia, Gr., RB, The Citadel

Sept. 14            Tre’ Holloway, Gr., WR/RS, Tennessee Tech
 
Defensive
Aug. 31             Cameron Goggins, Sr., CB, Mercer
Sept. 7             Omari Philyaw, Sr., DB, Tennessee Tech

Sept. 14            Caleb Easterling, So., CB, Furman

Special teams
Aug. 31             Davis Penn, Fr., RB, Wofford

Sept. 7             Cillian Bonner, So., P, Wofford

Sept. 14            Tre’ Holloway, Gr., WR/RS, Tennessee Tech