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. 14. Furman quarterback Trey Hedden was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Wofford defensive back CJ Coombes was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Paladins kicker Ian Williams was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Trey Hedden, Fr., QB, Furman, Tampa, Fla.
Hedden threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another score in Furman’s 48-7 victory over Stetson on Saturday. The freshman, who was making his first collegiate start, went 20-for-27 through the air, finishing with 267 yards, and had three rushes for 16 yards. Both of Hedden’s touchdown passes came in the second quarter, with the first coming from 51 yards out and the second was a 50-yard score. The Tampa, Florida, product’s 13-yard touchdown rush was in the third quarter, making the score 31-0. Hedden was named the Stats Perform FCS Freshman of the Week on Monday for his performance against Stetson.

Other nominees: Corey Ibrahim (The Citadel), Bryson Irby (ETSU), Dwayne McGee (Mercer), Damonta Witherspoon (Samford), Sam Phillips (Chattanooga) and Amari Odom (Wofford)
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: CJ Coombes, R-Fr., DB, Wofford, Bellefonte, Del.
Coombes had a team-high 13 tackles, 10 of which were solo, and a fumble recovery in Wofford’s 28-21 setback against 13th-ranked William & Mary on Saturday. The redshirt freshman’s fumble recovery came in the fourth quarter with 13:22 remaining in the game, which turned into a game-tying touchdown on Wofford’s ensuing possession. With this honor, the Bellefonte, Delaware, native became the third straight Terrier to win the conference’s defensive player of the week award.

 
Other nominees: Dominick Poole (The Citadel), Ty Anderson (ETSU), Myles Redding (Mercer), Noah Martin (Samford), Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga) and Mateo Sudipo (Western Carolina)
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ian Williams, R-Sr., PK, Furman, Charlotte, N.C.
Williams accounted for 12 points in the Paladins’ win versus Stetson. The redshirt senior went 6-for-6 on PATs and connected on a pair of field goals. His 57-yard boot in the third quarter, the longest by any FCS kicker this season, established a new school record, topping the previous standard of 55 yards. The native of Charlotte, North Carolina, also handled the punting duties, finishing the game with a 44.8 yards per punt average on five kicks. On kickoffs, Williams recorded eight touchbacks, all of which went out of the back of the endzone, on nine attempts.

 
Other nominees:  Melvin Ravenel (The Citadel), John McConnell (Mercer), Will Thorley (Samford), Jude Kelley (Chattanooga) and Stephen Brantley (Western Carolina)

 
2024 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 2             DJ Smith, Jr., QB, Mercer
Sept. 9             Amari Odom, R-Fr., QB, Wofford

Sept. 16            Trey Hedden, Fr., QB, Furman

 
Defensive
Sept. 2             Jalen Marshall, Jr., LB, Wofford
Sept. 9             Amir Annoor, Sr., DB, Wofford

Sept. 16            CJ Coombes, R-Fr., DB, Wofford

 
Special teams
Sept. 2             Brayden Smith, So., WR, Mercer

Sept. 9             John McConnell, R-Jr., P, Mercer

Sept. 16            Ian Williams, R-Sr., PK, Furman