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. 17. Wofford running back Gerald Modest Jr. was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Mercer linebacker Jyarius Carter was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Samford place kicker Ty Ippolito was also named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gerald Modest Jr., Jr., RB, Wofford, Miami, Fla.
Modest had 190 all-purpose yards and three rushing touchdowns for Wofford as the Terriers defeated VMI, 41-14, on Saturday. The junior ran for 173 yards on 20 carries and caught three passes for 17 yards. Modest scored twice in the second quarter, the first coming from 12 yards out and the other covering five yards. The native of Miami, Florida, logged his final score from 65 yards out at the 9:34 mark of the third quarter. Modest’s 65-yard scamper marked the longest run for the Terriers since 2023. Modest currently leads the conference in rushing yards (732).
Other nominees: JP Pickles (Mercer), Ken Cherry (Samford), and MJ Flowers (Tennessee Tech)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jyarius Carter, So., LB, Mercer, Douglas, Ga.
Carter had five tackles, including one sack, and an interception for Mercer as the Bears picked up a 31-21 road win at Samford. The product of Douglas, Georgia, returned his interception 32 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, putting the Bears ahead 14-0 at the 11:08 mark of the first quarter. The sophomore currently leads the SoCon in total tackles this season (68).
Other nominees: Jameson Wharton (Tennessee Tech) and Nicholas Mathious (Wofford)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ty Ippolito, Jr., PK, Samford, Windermere, Fla.
Ippolito made two field goals and was successful on his PAT attempt in Samford’s contest against Mercer. The junior’s first field goal came from 53 yards out on the final play of the first half. Ippolito’s 53-yarder was his second make over 50 yards this season, joining his conference-best 58-yard kick at Tennessee Tech on Sept. 12. The native of Windermere, Florida, converted his second field goal from 30 yards out in the third quarter.
Other nominees: Gavin Batt (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
Sept. 21 Joshua Perry, So., RB, Western Carolina
Sept. 28 Jax Leatherwood, Sr., QB, Tennessee Tech
Oct. 5 Gavin Garcia, 5th, RB, The Citadel
Oct. 12 JP Pickles, Sr., QB, Mercer
Oct. 19 Gerald Modest Jr., Jr., RB, Wofford
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
Sept. 28 Lashon Young, Jr., S, Samford
Oct. 5 Jarvis Johnson, R-So., LB, ETSU
Oct. 12 Eli Campbell, Sr., DB, Wofford
Oct. 19 Jyarius Carter, So., LB, Mercer
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
Sept. 28 Ewan Johnson, R-Sr., PK, ETSU
Oct. 5 Simon Zeidan, So., PK, Mercer
Oct. 12 Jude Kelley, Gr., PK, Chattanooga
Oct. 19 Ty Ippolito, Jr., PK, Samford