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. 24. Chattanooga running back Kevin Lalin was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Mocs linebacker Zion Rutledge was named the Defensive Player of the Week and place kicker Jude Kelley was also named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kevin Lalin, Sr., RB, Chattanooga, Spring Lake, N.C.
Lalin had 135 yards on 20 carries in Chattanooga’s 41-18 win at Western Carolina on Saturday. The senior scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, which matched a career best. The Silver Lake, North Carolina, native’s performance marked the fourth time this season that he crossed the century mark on the ground. Lalin currently leads the SoCon in rushing yards (825).
Other nominees: TJ Peyton (ETSU), Gabarri Johnson (Samford), MJ Flowers (Tennessee Tech), and Santana Carlos (Western Carolina)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Zion Rutledge, Sr., LB, Chattanooga, Powder Springs, Ga.
Rutledge finished with 17 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, in Chattanooga’s win. The 17 stops tied the senior’s best career effort. The product of Powder Springs, Georgia, who also has a pass breakup the game, led a defense that forced two turnovers against the Catamounts, who came into the game with just four for the season. Rutledge leads the league in tackles (80).
Other nominees: JJ Fludd (The Citadel), Jarvis Johnson (ETSU), Max Steve (Samford), and Greg Turner III (Tennessee Tech)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jude Kelley, Gr., PK, Chattanooga, Acworth, Ga.
Kelley, who also won the honor on Oct. 12, connected on all five of his PAT attempts and was 2-for-2 on field goals in the Mocs’ win. The native of Acworth, Georgia, made his first field goal from 57 yards out in the second quarter, tying the game at 10-10 in the final minute of the half. The 57-yarder established a new school record, topping Scott Kielblock’s 53-yard boot from Sept. 1998. The graduate student recorded his second field goal in the fourth quarter from 31 yards away.
Other nominees: Evan Kiely (The Citadel), Suderian Harrison (ETSU), Ty Ippolito (Samford), and AJ Colombo (Western Carolina)
Chattanooga became the first team to sweep the conference’s weekly awards since Samford achieved the feat on Oct. 8, 2018. The Mocs were also named the
Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week on Monday.
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
Oct. 26 Kevin Lalin, Sr., RB, Chattanooga
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
Oct. 26 Zion Rutledge, Sr., LB, Chattanooga
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
Oct. 26 Jude Kelley, Gr., PK, Chattanooga