SoCon names football players of the week

Mercer and The Citadel honored

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference Football Players of the Week presented by Southern Recognition were awarded for all games played on Oct. 26. Mercer running back Dwayne McGee was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Bears defensive lineman Brayden Manley was named the Defensive Player of the Week and The Citadel punter James Platte was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Dwayne McGee, Sr., RB, Mercer, Kissimmee, Fla.

McGee finished with 245 all-purpose yards for Mercer won its top-25 battle against Western Carolina, 44-34, on Saturday. The senior ran for 223 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while bringing in two catches for 22 yards. His 223 yards were the highest rushing output by any SoCon player this season and ranks second in the Mercer record book for a single game. The Kissimmee, Florida, native’s two touchdowns came from 64 yards out in the second quarter and from 59 yards in the third quarter. Mercer is now ranked No. 16 in the AFCA poll and No. 12 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.

Other nominees: Johnathan Bennett (The Citadel), Jaylen King (ETSU), Reggie Davis (Chattanooga) and Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brayden Manley, So., DL, Mercer, Vanceboro, N.C.

Manley recorded a game-high nine tackles, including a career-high 2.5 sacks, and a quarterback hurry in Mercer’s win over Western Carolina. The sophomore’s first sack came in the third quarter. The native of Vanceboro, North Carolina, combined with teammate Caden Camese for a sack with 5:54 left in the game before concluding his day with a solo sack in the final two minutes of the contest. Manley now leads the SoCon in sacks this season (6.0).

Other nominees: Evan Byrd (The Citadel), Ray Coney (ETSU), Noah Martin (Samford), Chris Victor (Chattanooga), Hayward McQueen Jr. (Western Carolina) and Eli Campbell (Wofford)

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: James Platte, Gr., P, The Citadel, Aiken S.C.

Platte punted five times, averaging 54.6 yards per kick for The Citadel as the Bulldogs topped Samford, 28-11, on Saturday. The graduate student had four punts over 50 yards, including a 61-yard boot in the second quarter, as the native of Aiken, South Carolina, pinned Samford inside the 20-yard line on three occasions with his punts. Platte is currently ranked second in the FCS in punting average (48.4) and was named the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday for his performance.

Other nominees: Elijah Taylor (ETSU), Reice Griffith (Mercer), Jude Kelley (Chattanooga) and Paxton Robertson (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

Sept. 23 DJ Smith, Jr., QB, Mercer

Sept. 30 Khamran Laborn, R-Jr., WR, ETSU

Oct.7 Sam Phillips, R-Jr., WR, Chattanooga

Oct.14 AJ Johnson, R-So., WR, ETSU

Oct. 21 Cole Gonzales, Jr., QB, Western Carolina

Oct. 28 Dwayne McGee, Sr., RB, Mercer

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

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

Sept. 23 TJ Moore, Sr., DB, Mercer

Sept. 30 Dainsus Miller, Jr., DB, Mercer

Oct. 7 David Powers, Sr., LB, Wofford

Oct. 14 TJ Moore, Sr., DB, Mercer

Oct. 21 Noah Martin, Gr., LB, Samford

Oct. 28 Brayden Manley, So., DL, Mercer

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

Sept. 23 Ewan Johnson, R-So., K, ETSU

Sept. 30 John McConnell, R-Jr., P, Mercer

Oct. 7 Nate Brackett, R-Jr., P, ETSU

Oct. 14 Jude Kelley, R-Jr., PK, Chattanooga

Oct. 21 Jude Kelley, R-Jr., PK, Chattanooga

Oct. 28 James Platte, Gr., P, The Citadel