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. 19. Western Carolina running back Joshua Perry was named the Offensive Player of the Week, ETSU safety Mike Jenkins, Jr. was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Catamounts place kicker Bryan McCollum was also named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joshua Perry, So., RB, Western Carolina, Orlando, Fla.

Perry ran for 142 yards on 16 carries in Western Carolina’s 58-14 rout over Presbyterian on Saturday. The product of Orlando, Florida, logged three touchdowns on the ground in the contest, scoring from 3, 62 and 14 yards out. The sophomore also three catches for 20 yards in the game as well. 

Other nominees: Kevin Lalin (Chattanooga)
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mike Jenkins Jr., Sr., S, ETSU, Summerville, S.C.
Jenkins had eights tackles, including one tackle for loss, and an interception as ETSU defeated West Georgia, 35-27, on Saturday. The senior from Summerville, South Carolina, returned his interception for a 25-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, putting the Bucs ahead 28-24 with 52 seconds on the clock. Jenkins is currently second on the Bucs in tackles this season with 22.

Other nominees: Ronin Dangler (Mercer), Orlando Daniels (Chattanooga), and Joshua Collins (Western Carolina)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bryan McCollum, So., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C.
McCollum scored a career-best 16 points in Western Carolina’s win against Presbyterian. The sophomore went 3-for-3 on field goals and was successful on all seven of his PAT attempts in the game. One of the three field goals that the native of Sanford, North Carolina, made was a career long of 45 yards, which he connected on right before halftime. McCollum leads the SoCon in points scored so far this season (36).

 
Other nominees: Luke Stewart (ETSU) and Jude Kelley (Chattanooga)
 
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

Sept. 21            Joshua Perry, So., RB, Western Carolina
 
Defensive
Aug. 31             Cameron Goggins, Sr., CB, Mercer
Sept. 7             Omari Philyaw, Sr., DB, Tennessee Tech

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

Sept. 21            Mike Jenkins Jr., Sr., S, ETSU

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

Sept. 21            Bryan McCollum, So., PK, Western Carolina