2025 Jerry Rice Award Winner: Mercer's Braden Atkinson Interview

SoCon

Football

Sit down with Coach Jacobs as he talks about the upcoming football season. 

SoCon Football Media Day: Mercer, Mike Jacobs

SoCon Football Media Day: UTC, Rusty Wright

Sit down with Coach Bell as he talks about the upcoming football season. 

SoCon Football Media Day: WCU, Kerwin Bell

Sit down with Coach Healy as he talks about the upcoming football season. 

SoCon Football Media Day: ETSU, Will Healy

Tennessee Tech Football

Tennessee Tech

#️⃣5️⃣ DAYS TILL KICKOFF! 

🎟️ Link:
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#AimHigher #WingsUp https://t.co/LlVhszSRUK

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The Citadel Football

The Citadel

Citadel

Beyond the Barracks is 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞!

Thank you to Head Coach Mo Drayton and AD Art Chase for joining host Brian Giffin for our first show of the season as we get ready for game week vs. Wofford.

Join us every Monday at 6 PM at Buffalo Wild Wings in Mount Pleasant! https://t.co/EBmUxpzJxq

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Beyond the Barracks is 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞!

Thank you to Head Coach Mo Drayton and AD Art Chase for joining host Brian Giffin for our first show of the season as we get ready for game week at Wofford.

Join us every Monday at 6 PM at Buffalo Wild Wings in Mount Pleasant!

#FireThoseCannons https://t.co/tiDnyYNStF

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Meet the Running Backs🦅

#AimHigher #WingsUp https://t.co/JhUpLBrdFJ

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Beyond the Barracks OFFICIALLY RETURNS this evening, now at a new location -- the @BWWings over in Mount Pleasant, SC 🦬🏈

Our first episode will feature HC @KoachDrayton, AD Art Chase &amp; SID Jay Sullivan...join us live, or check out the final edit Tuesday 🎙️

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Samford Football

Samford Bulldogs

Samford University

Meet Samford Assistant O-Line Coach @74logan74 🐶🏈

#AllForSAMford #SamfordDNA https://t.co/fruTe9O4Ql

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🚨WEEK 0️⃣ 🚨

📍Cookeville, TN
🏟️ Tucker Stadium
📆 Saturday, August 29th
⏰ 6 PM CST
📺 ESPN ➕
📻 98.5 Kiss Fm

#AimHigher | #WingsUp https://t.co/RAwyVXlrB4

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Mercer Football

Mercer

MEET THE BEARS | Safeties Edition🔒

#ATTACK https://t.co/cDwTJF5Inx

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., Ingles Markets and the Southern Conference announced Monday the Ingles SoCon Game of the Week football broadcast package on select Nexstar affiliates for the 2026 season. Each SoCon squad will make at least one appearance over the course of the 15-game broadcast schedule. This season marks a record number of games for the SoCon’s Nexstar package. The schedule kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 29, with The Citadel traveling to Wofford at 6 p.m. The game is the season opener for both teams.  Chattanooga hosts the next two matchups in the package. The Mocs host the league’s newest member, Tennessee Tech, on Sept. 5, before welcoming Wofford on Sept. 19.   The month of October features three Saturdays with a pair of games. On Oct. 3, Furman hosts Wofford at 2 p.m., ahead of Tennessee Tech heading to Cullowhee to play Western Carolina at 6 p.m. October 17 will start with VMI heading to Wofford at 1:30 p.m., before Mercer’s trip to Samford finishes the doubleheader at 7 p.m. On Halloween, Western Carolina travels to Furman for a 2 p.m. kickoff, and Wofford heads to Birmingham to play Samford, which is set for a 7 p.m. start. The conference slate also features three wildcard games on Nov. 7, 14, and 21. The wildcard contests provide an opportunity for the league to showcase games towards the end of the season which will impact the conference title and NCAA FCS playoff berths.  Each game in the Nexstar package will air concurrently on ESPN+. All games will air on WYCW (Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson). Nexstar stations in other SoCon markets that have the ability to pick up games are WMYT (Charlotte), WWCW (Roanoke), WJHL (Tri-Cities), WCBD (Charleston), WGHP (Greensboro) and WBTW (Myrtle Beach). Although not Nexstar stations, EFLI (Chattanooga, TN), WMUB (Macon, GA), and several other affiliates that will be announced at a later date have the opportunity to air games from this season’s package. Nexstar football broadcast schedule (all times Eastern) 8/29 - The Citadel at Wofford 6 PM 9/5 - Tennessee Tech at Chattanooga 6 PM 9/19 - Wofford at Chattanooga 6 PM 9/26 - Western Carolina at ETSU 3:30 PM 10/3 - Wofford at Furman 2 PM and Tennessee Tech at Western Carolina 6 PM 10/10 - ETSU at The Citadel 2 PM 10/17 - VMI at Wofford 1:30 PM and Mercer at Samford 7 PM 10/24 - Chattanooga at Western Carolina 2:30 PM 10/31 - Western Carolina at Furman 2 PM and Wofford at Samford 7 PM 11/7 - Wildcard 11/14 - Wildcard 11/21 - Wildcard</div>

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The Southern Conference

Southern Conference

Chattanooga Mocs

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

ETSU Buccaneers

East Tennessee State University

Furman Paladins

Furman University

Western Carolina

Wofford

Wofford College

SoCon announces Nexstar football broadcast schedule

Stan Becton part 2

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<div class="payload-richtext">GREENVILLE, S.C. – Mercer senior wide receiver/return specialist Brayden Smith has been named the Southern Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Furman redshirt junior defensive end Joshua Stoneking has been tabbed the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in voting by the league's 10 head coaches. The coaches picked the Bears to win the SoCon.  The coaches also selected the preseason all-conference first and second teams and were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes or teams in the voting process. Due to ties in the voting, the second team includes an additional offensive lineman and long snapper. Smith was voted onto the all-conference teams following the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Last week, Smith was one of the 30 players named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List. The senior played and started 12 games last season for the Bears as Mercer went 9-3 and 8-0 in conference games last season. Smith accounted for 1,267 all-purpose yards, leading the team in return yards and finishing second in receiving yards. The native of Macon, Georgia, had seven games in 2025 where he accounted for more than 100 yards. Stoneking had a stellar season in 2025, landing on seven different All-American squads which is a record for the program. The product of Raleigh, North Carolina, was a first-team all-conference selection and was the runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in the FCS. A three-time SoCon Defensive Player of the Week last season, Stoneking completed his 2025 campaign leading the nation in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (23.0). Stoneking, who was named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List last week, recorded two or more sacks in a game five times a year ago. Mercer completed the 2025 season earning the No. 6 seed in the FCS Championship. The Bears collected 76 points and six first-place votes in this year’s preseason poll. The Bears placed six players on the preseason first-team all-conference. Tennessee Tech, who went a perfect 8-0 in the Big South/OVC last season, came in second in the preseason poll with 70 points and three first-place nods. The Golden Eagles had four players voted to the preseason all-conference second team. ETSU collected 61 points and the final first place vote in the preseason poll. The Bucs had a league- best nine selections to the preseason teams. Western Carolina finished in fourth with 58 points and three selections to the all-conference squads. Chattanooga (48) and Furman (46) follow in fifth and sixth, respectively, in the preseason poll. The Mocs placed seven players on the preseason team, while the Paladins had eight picks. Wofford is seventh in the preseason poll with 36 points. The Terriers logged six preseason all-conference selections. Samford came in eighth with 23 points and four all-conference picks. The Citadel was in ninth with 22 points and three first-team selections. VMI rounded out the poll with 10 points and four preseason all-conference selections. The SoCon's 2026 season gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 27, with Furman hosting Anderson, and Chattanooga traveling to West Georgia. The rest of the league will get its season underway on Saturday, Aug. 29.  2026 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches PollTeam (1st-place votes)     Total1. Mercer (6)                        762. Tennessee Tech (3)       703. ETSU (1)                         614. Western Carolina            585. Chattanooga                   486. Furman                            467. Wofford                            368. Samford                           239. The Citadel                      2210. VMI                                10  2026 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football TeamsOffensive Player of the Year: Brayden Smith, WR/RS, MercerDefensive Player of the Year: Joshua Stoneking, DL, Furman First team offenseQB          Quentin Hayes, The CitadelRB          Jason Albritton, ETSURB          Leo Boehling, VMIOL          Tyler Heggins-Hill, The CitadelOL          Will McCraw, ETSUOL          Brody Balliew, MercerOL          Tyler Murray, MercerOL          Aidan Donald, ChattanoogaTE          Charlie Browder, ETSUWR         Brayden Smith, MercerWR         Preston Bird, Samford First team defenseDL          Brenden LeBlanc, ETSUDL          Joshua Stoneking, FurmanDL          Kobe McInnis, MercerDL          Orlando Daniels, ChattanoogaLB           Raleigh Herbert, FurmanLB           Jyarius Carter, MercerLB           Zion Rutledge, ChattanoogaDB          Mike Jenkins, ETSUDB          Kam Baah-Slay, ChattanoogaDB          Ken Moore Jr, Western CarolinaDB          Eli Campbell, Wofford First team specialistsPK          Ewan Johnson, ETSUP             Ben Shrewsbury, VMILS           Tommy DiLiegro, The CitadelRS          Brayden Smith, Mercer Second team offenseQB          Jax Leatherwood, Tennessee TechRB          Marcus Harris, Tennessee TechRB          Gerald Modest, WoffordOL          Chris Luna, FurmanOL          Noah Watts, SamfordOL          Eric Nunez, Tennessee TechOL          Bryce Burnett, VMIOL          Zach Watson, Western CarolinaOL          Reggie Houston, WoffordTE          Gerard Grewe, Tennessee TechWR         Josh Williams, ChattanoogaWR         AJ Colombo, Western Carolina Second team defenseDL          Demetrius Baldwin, FurmanDL          Elihu Lipscomb, FurmanDL          Ky Tayo, ChattanoogaDL          Ramon McCollough, WoffordLB           Dre Delinois, ETSULB           Isaiah Grevious, VMILB           Wyatt Ward, WoffordDB          Jivon Oggs, ETSUDB          AK Burrell, FurmanDB          Josh Tarver, FurmanDB          Jalen Nelson, Samford Second team specialistsPK          Sam Spence, WoffordP             Heath Jehu, ChattanoogaLS           Brock Winstead, ETSULS           Aidan Barr, SamfordRS          Caleb Easterling, Furman NOTE: Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players or team.  </div>

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UNC Greensboro

North Carolina Greensboro

SoCon football preseason all-conference team, poll announced

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://soconsports.com/article/blt34a5a570fd55940e/">
 Previous SoCon Female Athlete of the Year Winners 
 </a>| <a href="https://soconsports.com/article/blta96166b755cd4122/">
 Previous SoCon Male Athlete of the Year Winners
 </a>SPARTANBURG, SC – Furman golfer Audrey Ryu was named 2025-2026 Southern Conference Female Athlete of the Year, and Mercer defensive end Andrew Zock was named 2025-2026 Bob Waters Southern Conference Male Athlete of the Year, the conference office announced on Thursday. The awards are selected annually by a voting panel comprising the conference's Directors of Athletics and one media member from each conference school. The awards recognize athletic achievement, academic performance, and civic involvement. The men's award was named after the late Bob Waters in 1991-1992. Waters served as the head football coach at Western Carolina from 1969 through 1988 and led the Catamounts to three top-10 national finishes and a berth in the 1983 Division I-AA National Championship Game. Ryu (Dublin, Ohio) is a repeat winner after claiming the honor in 2024-25 and is Furman's seventh-straight SoCon Female Athlete of the Year. The Furman women's golf program has claimed seven SoCon Female Athlete of the Year plaudits since the award's inception in 1989-90 – and the Paladins have been honored 14 times overall during that timeframe. Ryu won medalist honors for the second year in a row at the SoCon Women's Golf Championship, leading Coach Jeff Hull's team to another SoCon team title as well. A junior, she was named 2026 SoCon Women's Golfer of the Year and paced her team with a 72.73 stroke average. During the regular season, Ryu recorded six finishes inside the top 11, including a sixth-place effort at the Valspar Augusta Invitational and a seventh-place finish at the Cougar Classic. She was named SoCon Golfer of the Week three times. Off the course, Ryu carries a 3.96 GPA as a biology major and is also a concert pianist. Ryu is currently working with Prisma Health in cancer pathology clinical research. She has published computational chemistry research at Furman and works with Prisma Hospital's Institute of Translational Oncology Research. Ryu was named to the WGCA All-America Scholar Team and the CSC Academic All-District Team, as well as the SoCon Academic All-Conference Team and SoCon Academic Honor Roll. She is also on the Dean's List at Furman. Ryu was voted first or second on 17 of the 20 ballots this year, earning 11 first-place votes. She finished with 83 total points, ahead of Samford'sSam De Luca (51 points), UNC Greensboro's Brooklyn Shroyer (51 points), and ETSU's Makayla Bays (45 points). Zock (Citra, FL) is the first Mercer student-athlete to win the Bob Waters Male SoCon Athlete of the Year award since Bears' soccer standout Will Bagrou did so consecutively in 2016-17 and 2017-18. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive end enjoyed a sensational sophomore season, culminating in the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS. Zock was a consensus FCS All-America selection in 2025, earning his status from six different organizations.  The 2025 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year was only the second player in SoCon history to earn the Buchanan Award, joining App State legend Dexter Coakley (1995, 1996) on an exclusive list.  Zock finished the season with 46 total tackles (24 solo) and school single-season marks for sacks (11.5), tackles for loss (20.0), and quarterback pressures (23). He added four pass breakups and two forced fumbles to bolster a Mercer defense that powered the Bears to another SoCon title and berth in the FCS Playoffs. In addition to his proficiency in tackling and pressuring opposing signal callers, Zock also made his mark in the classroom and community. He forged a 3.41 cumulative GPA in sports marketing and analytics, earning SoCon Academic All-Conference honors and a spot on the conference's Academic Honor Roll. Zock also participated in several initiatives with the school's 'Build The Bear' service program. Zock received 10 first-place votes to finish with 73 total points, just ahead of Furman's Diego Hernandez (59 points) and Samford's Jadin Booth (52 points). Voting in 2025-26 saw 100 percent participation, with all 20 ballots submitted for each award. </div>

2026 SoCon Athletes of the Year

Women’s Golf

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Brandon Maina

Wofford's Brandon Maina Named FCS ADA Scholar-Athlete of the Year

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Chattanooga Mocs Defensive Back Writes a Book

<div class="payload-richtext">NASHVILLE, TN ­– Mercer’s Andrew Zock won the Buck Buchanan Award Saturday night at the FCS National Awards reception at historic Woolworth Theatre, capping a spectacular sophomore season with the top defensive honor in the FCS. Zock (Citra, FL / Hawthorne HS) is the first Mercer player to win the award and first SoCon honoree since Dexter Coakley (App State) won in 1995 and 1996 – the first two seasons the Buchanan was awarded. Furman’s Joshua Stoneking and Fordham’s James Conway were the other two finalists this year. Zock received 15 first-place votes and 133 total points, edging Stoneking for the top honor. Stoneking finished with 10 first-place votes and 119 total points. Zock finished the season with 46 total tackles, 20.0 tackles for loss (minus-109 yards), 11.5 sacks (minus-83 yards), four pass break ups, and a SoCon-best 23 quarterback hurries. He added two forced fumbles and recovered another. He registered at least one sack in eight different games, with two each in wins over ETSU, VMI, and Samford. The 2025 season wasn’t an outlier, with Zock finishing fourth in last season’s Jerry Rice Award voting for the top freshman in the FCS. He finished the 2024 campaign with 38 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. Zock is the 15th defensive end to win the Buchanan Award, including each of the last six seasons. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder joined teammate Braden Atkinson in Nashville Saturday evening, with Atkinson taking home the 2025 Jerry Rice Award. A complete run down of the 2025 Buck Buchanan Award voting is available <a href="https://theanalyst.com/articles/buck-buchanan-award-andrew-zock-mercer-fcs-football-defensive-player-of-the-year">
 here
 </a>.   </div>

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<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, SC – Furman standout Joshua Stoneking was named Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) National Defensive Player of the Year on Friday as part of the organization’s All-America Team. Stoneking (Raleigh, NC / Cardinal Gibbbons HS) led FCS with 14.5 sacks (minus-97 yards) and 23.0 tackles for loss (minus-132 yards) in 2025. He led Furman with 79 total tackles (42 solo) in 12 games and posted nine quarterback hurries, two pass break ups, a blocked kick, and two fumble recoveries. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive end was a consensus All-America selection following the season, earning a spot on teams selected by Football Central, the Associated Press, Stats Perform, AFCA, the Walter Camp Foundation, and FCS ADA. Stoneking is the third Furman football standout to earn a National Player of the Year honor, joining Jeff Blankenship (1988) and Louis Ivory (2001) in that exclusive club. Now in its 13th year, the FCS ADA All-America team recognizes 11 individuals as the top players at their position in the FCS. Stoneking is also one of three finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually by Stats Perform to the top defensive player in the FCS. That award will be announced tonight, January 3, in Nashville, TN, as part of the FCS National Awards presentation at Woolworth Theatre. Mercer’s Andrew Zock is also a finalist for the Buchanan Award, and Western Carolina’s Taron Dickens is one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award. Mercer’s Braden Atkinson was named the Jerry Rice Award winner following the season by Stats Perform as the nation’s top freshman. About the FCS ADA: The Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance Football Championship Subdivision football. For more information on the FCS ADA, please visit <a href="http://www.fcsada.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 www.fcsada.com
 </a>. The FCS ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 61st year. For more information on NACDA and the 19 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit <a href="http://www.nacda.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 www.nacda.com
 </a>.</div>

Stoneking Furman

Stoneking FCS ADA

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference’s 40-game league football schedule for 2026 is set to get under way Saturday, Aug. 29, with The Citadel visiting Wofford.   The next SoCon games are two weeks later on Sept. 12, when Furman visits two-time defending SoCon champion Mercer. Tennessee Tech will also make its conference debut that day as the Golden Eagles welcome Samford. Another solo SoCon game follows on Sept. 19, when Wofford heads to Chattanooga. Four league games are set for the next three weeks. The first SoCon Saturday, with all 10 squads playing a conference game, is Oct. 31, with a full slate following in the next two weeks as well.  Regular season play wraps up on Saturday, Nov. 21, with the opening round of the FCS playoffs starting the following weekend. Three league games are set for the final day of the regular season.   Full broadcast schedules will be announced later, but all 10 schools’ home games will air on ESPN+ if not selected for national or regional broadcast.  The opening of the 2026 SoCon football schedule begins with SoCon Media Day on July 21, 2026. Details regarding the event will be released on a future date. 2026 Southern Conference football schedule (league games only) Aug. 29The Citadel at Wofford Sept. 12 Furman at Mercer Samford at Tennessee Tech Sept. 19 Wofford at Chattanooga     Sept. 26 Chattanooga at The Citadel Western Carolina at ETSU VMI at Samford Tennessee Tech at Wofford Oct. 3 Chattanooga at ETSU Wofford at FurmanMercer at VMITennessee Tech at Western Carolina   Oct. 10 ETSU at The CitadelFurman at Tennessee TechWestern Carolina at MercerSamford at Chattanooga   Oct. 17 Mercer at SamfordVMI at Wofford   Oct. 24 Tennessee Tech at The Citadel ETSU at VMISamford at FurmanChattanooga at Western Carolina   Oct. 31 The Citadel at MercerTennessee Tech at ETSUWestern Carolina at FurmanWofford at SamfordVMI at Chattanooga   Nov. 7 Furman at The CitadelSamford at ETSUMercer at ChattanoogaVMI at Tennessee TechWofford at Western Carolina   Nov. 14 The Citadel at VMIETSU at WoffordChattanooga at FurmanMercer at Tennessee TechWestern Carolina at Samford   Nov. 21 The Citadel at Western CarolinaETSU at MercerFurman at VMI</div>

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2026 SoCon football schedule announced

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The Citadel's James Platte Named 2025 FCS Punter of the Year

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<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://mercerbears.com/news/2025/12/3/football-braden-atkinson-wins-2025-jerry-rice-award">
 Braden Atkinson Wins 2025 Jerry Rice Award
 </a>MACON – <a href="https://mercerbears.com/sports/football/roster/braden-atkinson/11907">
 Braden Atkinson
 </a> slapped an emphatic entry into a phenomenal rookie campaign on Wednesday morning when Mercer's record-breaking quarterback was announced as the winner of the 2025 Jerry Rice Award which honors the national freshman player of the year in college football's Division I FCS subdivision.   Atkinson picked up 51 out of a possible 54 first-place votes from a national voting panel and compiled 267 points on the way to staking claim to the honor. UC Davis quarterback Caden Pinnick finished second with 149 points, while Houston Christian running back Xai'Shaun Christian was third with 69 points. Wednesday's announcement marked the first time in the history of the award that a Southern Conference student-athlete has been decorated with the award.   The Jerry Rice Award, celebrating its 15th anniversary season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice who starred in the FCS at Mississippi Valley State. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.   The Jerry Rice Award includes true and redshirt freshmen, and all 13 FCS conferences were represented on the list of 25 finalists that was announced late last month. Atkinson will be honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on January 3 in Nashville, Tenn.   A native of Rolesville, N.C., and a product of Rolesville High School, Atkinson has completed 68.1 percent (250-for-367) of his pass attempts this season and has already broken school single-season records for passing completions (250), attempts (367), yards (3,448) and touchdowns (34). He has thrown for 300 or more yards in eight of his 10 starts, including a school-record 533 yards amid Mercer's 62-0 home win over VMI on October 25. He has also, thrice, matched the program's single-game superlative for passing touchdowns with five scoring tosses against Samford, VMI and Chattanooga.   He currently ranks second among all FCS signal callers in passing yards, passing yards per game (344.8), passing touchdowns and completions per game (25.00), while ranking third, nationally, in points responsible for per game (21.0), total offense per game (345.8) and yards per pass attempt (9.40).   The Bears (9-2, 8-0 SoCon) will begin their road in the NCAA postseason on Saturday when they suit up to take on 11th-seeded South Dakota (9-4, 6-2 MVFC) in the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Kickoff has been scheduled for noon at Five Star Stadium.   Tickets for the game are still available and can be purchased by visiting <a href="https://www.tixr.com/groups/mercerbears/events/mercer-playoff-game-165504">
 MercerBears.com/Tickets
 </a>.<a href="https://theanalyst.com/articles/jerry-rice-award-mercer-qb-braden-atkinson-2025-fcs-football-freshman-of-year">
 Stats Perform release
 </a></div>

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Mercer's Braden Atkinson Wins 2025 Jerry Rice Award

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://theanalyst.com/articles/buck-buchanan-award-fcs-football-defensive-player-of-year-announcement-2025">
 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan release
 </a><a href="https://theanalyst.com/articles/walter-payton-award-fcs-football-offensive-player-of-year-announcement-2025">
 Stats Perform Walter Payton release
 </a><a href="https://furmanpaladins.com/news/2025/12/2/football-furmans-stoneking-earns-invite-to-2025-buck-buchanan-award-announcement.aspx">
 Furman's Stoneking Earns Invite To 2025 Buck Buchanan Award Announcement
 </a>Stoneking, a 6-foot-3, 264-pound redshirt sophomore from Raleigh, N.C., had FCS regular season highs in sacks (14.5), tackles for loss (23.0), and tackle yards for loss (132). He had at least one TFL in 11 of 12 games, and he matched his season high of 10 tackles out of 79 overall in the other game. He also totaled nine quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one blocked kick. His 14.5 sacks accounted for 56 percent of Furman's 26 total sacks, and his 23 tackles for loss represented 33.3 percent of the Paladins' tackles for loss this season — by far the highest percentages among SoCon defenders. He was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week a league best three times this fall and was accorded all-conference honors in voting by league head coaches.<a href="https://mercerbears.com/news/2025/12/2/football-zock-earns-invite-to-nashville-as-finalist-for-buck-buchanan-award">
 Mercer's Zock Earns Invite To Nashville As Finalist For Buck Buchanan Award
 </a>With the announcement, Zock becomes the second Mercer student-athlete in as many years to earn an invite to the annual awards ceremony.   Zock has totaled 41 tackles (23 solo), including a school record 20.0 tackles for loss (-109 yards), across 11 starts this season, while also turning in 22 quarterback hurries, three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He has also logged a single season school record sack total (11.5). He has tallied multiple tackles for loss in seven outings, including a season-best 4-1/2 drops behind the line in Mercer's Week 3 win over Wofford.   The Citra, Fla., native has accumulated 34-1/2 tackles for loss (18-1/2 sacks) in two seasons and 25 games in the Orange & Black. He also boasts a school record 36 quarterback hurries.<a href="https://catamountsports.com/news/2025/12/2/football-wcus-taron-dickens-invited-to-the-2025-walter-payton-award-announcement.aspx">
 Western Carolina's Taron Dickens Invited to 2025 Walter Payton Award Announcement
 </a>Western Carolina redshirt sophomore quarterback <a href="https://catamountsports.com/sports/football/roster/taron-dickens/14023">
 Taron Dickens
 </a>, who led the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in five of the top offensive statistical categories through nine regular-season games, has been invited to the announcement of the 2025 Walter Payton Award.   The 2025 award recipient, selected after the regular season by a 56-member national voting panel, will be announced at the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3, <a href="https://www.woolworththeatre.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 at the Woolworth Theatre
 </a> in Nashville, Tenn., the site of the NCAA FCS National Championship game.   The Roy M. "Legs" Hawley Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-SoCon selection, Dickens ranked No. 1 in the FCS in total passing yards (3,508) despite three fewer games than most other candidates. He also paced the country in passing yards per game (389.8), completion percentage (74.2), total offensive yards per game (425.4), and touchdown passes with a school and SoCon single-season record 38.   The first Catamount football player to ever earn an invite to the national postseason awards ceremony, Dickens will be joined in the Music City by Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard and QB Cole Payton of North Dakota State as <a href="https://theanalyst.com/articles/walter-payton-award-fcs-football-offensive-player-of-year-announcement-2025" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 the top three in the final vote count
 </a>. Brungard and Payton both compete in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).</div>

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Three SoCon Players Invited to the 2025 FCS Awards

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference’s nine football coaches have selected their annual all-conference teams and specialty awards for the 2025 season. Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens is the Offensive Player of the Year and Mercer defensive lineman Andrew Zock is the Defensive Player of the Year. Bears quarterback Braden Atkinson is the Freshman of the Year and head coach Mike Jacobs is the Coach of the Year. The Citadel offensive lineman Mike Bartilucci is the Jacobs Blocking Award winner.   The coaches, who could not vote for their own players or themselves, selected all-conference first and second teams and all-freshman teams on offense, defense and special teams. Due to a tie in the voting, there was one additional wide receiver, offensive lineman and defensive back on the second team.   2025 Coaches All-Southern Conference Football Team   Roy M. “Legs” Hawley Offensive Player of the Year – Taron Dickens, QB, R-So., Western CarolinaDefensive Player of the Year – Andrew Zock, So., DL, MercerFreshman of the Year – Braden Atkinson, QB, MercerJacobs Blocking Award – Mike Bartilucci, OL, The CitadelWallace Wade Coach of the Year – Mike Jacobs, Mercer First team offenseQB – Taron Dickens, Western CarolinaRB – Devontae Houston, ETSU RB – CJ Miller, MercerOL – Mike Bartilucci, The CitadelOL – Ashton Flinn, ETSUOL – Seth Williams, ETSUOL – Luke Petit, FurmanOL – Xavier Jennings, MercerTE – Josh Burrell, FurmanWR – Adjatay Dabbs, MercerWR – James Tyre, Western Carolina First team defenseDL – Joshua Stoneking, FurmanDL – Andrew Zock, MercerDL – Donovan Grayson, SamfordDL – Brandon Maina, WoffordLB – Ty Anderson, ETSULB – Drew Clare., MercerLB – Jaden Mosley, SamfordDB – William Wells, ETSUDB – Kaleb Hutchinson, MercerDB – Ken Moore, Jr., Western CarolinaDB – Maximus Pulley, Wofford First team special teamsPK – Reice Griffith, MercerP – Ben Shrewsbury, VMILS – Nathan Payne, VMIRS – Dominic Dutton, Western Carolina Second team offenseQB – Braden Atkinson, MercerRB – Ryan Ingram, ChattanoogaRB – Ihson Jackson-Anderson, WoffordOL – Jamari Freeman, MercerOL – Tyler Murray, MercerOL – Amarii Atchison, MercerOL – Ryan Merklinger, ChattanoogaOL – Zack Watson, Western CarolinaOL – Quincy Hughes, WoffordTE – Josiah Thomas, Western CarolinaWR – Evan James, FurmanWR – Owen Sweeney, VMIWR – Malik Knight, Western Carolina Second team defenseDL – Chris Benton, The CitadelDL – Chris Davis, ETSUDL – Jordan Swain, MercerDL – Conroy Cunningham, SamfordLB – Mikey Rosa, The CitadelLB – Zion Rutledge, ChattanoogaLB – Stephen Dean III, VMIDB – Cale Williams, The CitadelDB – Mike Jenkins, ETSUDB – Kam Baah-Slay, ChattanoogaDB – Eli Campbell, WoffordDB – Darius Malcolm, Jr., Wofford Second team special teamsPK – Ian Williams, FurmanP – James Platte, The CitadelLS – Alex Applefield, SamfordRS – Brayden Smith, Mercer All-Freshman OffenseBrady Pickett, The CitadelCobey Thompkins, The CitadelJeremiah Harrison, ETSUCole Norred, ETSUBraden Atkinson, MercerEvan James, FurmanTy Doughty, MercerGavin Marks, MercerOwen Sweeney, VMIJosiah Thomas, Western CarolinaMarkel Townsend, Western Carolina All-Freshman DefenseSayre Smothers, The CitadelDemetrius Baldwin, FurmanKobe McInnis, MercerKJ Thomas, MercerTrey Lenhardt, SamfordKamari Todd, ChattanoogaKJ Sejour, ChattanoogaDonovan Burnett, VMIDerek Hite, VMIDarius Malcolm Jr., WoffordWyatt Ward, Wofford  All-Freshman Special TeamsCaleb Easterling, FurmanJake Garner, SamfordMarcus Trout, Western CarolinaCavan Craig, Wofford Notes: - Mercer quarterback Braden Atkinson and Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens (Walter Payton Award), Furman defensive lineman Joshua Stoneking, Mercer defensive lineman Andrew Zock and Wofford defensive back Maximus Pulley (Buck Buchanan Award), Atkinson, Furman wide receiver Evan James and Wofford defensive back Darius Malcolm Jr. (Jerry Rice Award) and Mercer coach Mike Jacobs (Eddie Robinson Award) are all national finalists for FCS legacy awards. - Both Dickens (WCU) and Zock (Mercer) lived up to their billing as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - Entering postseason play, Western Carolina’s Dickens leads FCS football in seven offensive categories, including passing yards (3,508), completion percentage (.742) and passing TDs (38). His 38 touchdown passes set a new SoCon record for passing touchdowns in a season. Dickens passing efficiency rating of 188.24 this season broke Michael Payton’s previous mark of 181.30 set in 1991. - Dickens claimed SoCon Offensive Player of the Week three times this season, most recently on Monday after a four-touchdown performance at VMI. The other two wins came on Sept. 22 and Oct. 6. - On Oct. 4 at Wofford, Dickens completed his first 46 passes of the contest, setting a new NCAA record in the process. Dickens’ performance against the Terriers led to him being named the Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week. He was named honorable mention for the national honor on four other occasions. Combined with his final four completions from the week before at Campbell, Dickens’ multi-game NCAA record is 50 consecutive completions. - Dickens is the second Catamount quarterback in the past three seasons to be recognized as the conference’s offensive player of the year, as Cole Gonzales received the honor from the media in 2023.  - Mercer’s Zock is the second Bear to be named Defensive Player of the Year, joining former teammate Brayden Manley (2024). Zock finished the regular season ranked second nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.81), sixth nationally in sacks per game (1.04), and is among the national leaders with 22 quarterback hurries. Zock’s 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks are both new career-high totals and raise his career totals to 34.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks in only 25 games played. Zock was the 2024 SoCon Freshman of the Year.  - Zock had five games with multiple sacks and seven games with multiple tackles for loss. His most productive outing came on Sept. 13 vs. Wofford, with eight tackles, 4.5 for loss, a sack and two hurries. He registered at least a half TFL in all but two games in 2025.  - Zock’s most efficient game came on Oct. 25 vs. VMI, when he had two solo stops, both sacks, and four quarterback hurries. - Behind Zock’s pressure, the Mercer defense ranks first nationally in team sacks, third in first-down defense, fourth in rushing defense, fourth in team TFL, and 17th in third down defense. The Bears also rank in the top 25 nationally in red zone defense. - Mercer’s Atkinson has put together one of the best freshman seasons ever by a quarterback nationally. He needs only 370 more yards through the air to break Elon’s Scott Riddle’s 2007 single-season SoCon and FCS freshman passing mark of 3,817 yards. His 34 passing touchdowns broke the previous FCS freshman mark of 31 set in 2004 by New Hampshire’s Ricky Santos and tied in 2007 by Riddle. Atkinson is within striking distance of Riddle’s SoCon and national freshman mark of 3,738 total offensive yards, which Riddle set in 2007 at Elon. He needs five more touchdowns responsible for to catch Riddle for the SoCon’s freshman record (40), also set in 2007. - Atkinson is the second Mercer player in a row to earn SoCon Freshman of the Year honors, joining Andrew Zock (2024). He is the first Mercer offensive player to win the award since quarterback Kaelan Riley (2017). - Atkinson ranks second among all quarterbacks nationally in passing yards per game (344.8), passing yards (3,448), completions (25.0), and touchdowns (34). He ranks third nationally among all quarterbacks in total offense (345.8), passing efficiency (173.80), yards per attempt (9.4) and points responsible for (21.0 per game). He leads all FCS freshman in passing offense (by 921 yards) and total offense (by 619 yards). - Atkinson’s best game through the air this season, a 533-yard effort vs. VMI, fell only seven yards shy of the NCAA FCS freshman record for yards passing in a game. It fell one yard shy of the SoCon freshman mark, set in 2007 by Scott Riddle. Atkinson’s 533 yards are the fifth most in a game in SoCon history overall. He tossed a season-high five touchdowns vs. Samford (10/4), VMI (10/25), and Chattanooga (11/15) and had at least three touchdown passes in eight of the 10 games he played during the regular season. - Atkinson’s current passing efficiency rating (173.80) would rank third all-time in SoCon history, regardless of class, for a season. Dickens’ rating of 188.24 this season broke Michael Payton’s previous mark of 181.30 set in 1991. - Atkinson is one of only two quarterbacks in SoCon history to pass for more than 2,000 yards over a five-game stretch, joining Devlin Hodges (Samford). Hodges did so three times over two different seasons. Atkinson’s stretch of six consecutive games with at least 300 passing yards is second in SoCon history behind Riddle’s nine-game stretch in 2007. - The Citadel’s Bartilucci is the third Bulldog lineman, and second center, to earn the Jacobs Blocking Award. Center Mike Sellers (2012) and tackle Isaiah Pinson (2016) are the other two Bulldogs to earn the prestigious honor. - Bartilucci built on his preseason first-team All-SoCon honors at center by bulldozing the way for an offense that led the SoCon and ranked No. 9 nationally in rushing yards per game (210.6). The Citadel topped the 300-yard mark on the ground three times in 2025 behind Bartilucci, going 3-0 in those games. - Mercer’s Jacobs won SoCon Coach of the Year for the second season in a row after leading the Bears to a top 10 ranking and No. 6 national seed in the playoffs. He is the first coach to win SoCon Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons since Scott Wachenheim (VMI) did so in 2019 and the spring season of 2021. - Jacobs has posted a 20-5 mark over the past two seasons combined, including a 15-1 mark in SoCon action. His Bears have finished the regular season ranked inside the national top 10 in two consecutive seasons. - Mercer paced the league with 18 players earning postseason distinction. The Bears had 13 all-conference selections for the second season in a row and five all-freshman picks. Western Carolina had 10 players earn postseason honors, including seven All-SoCon choices and three on the all-freshman team. ETSU and Wofford each had nine total, with the Bucs landing seven players on the All-SoCon team. The Terriers had six All-SoCon picks. - Mercer’s 13 all-conference selections included seven on the first team. ETSU was second with five players on the first team. Four of Western Carolina’s seven All-SoCon selections were first teamers.  - Mercer also led the SoCon with five all-freshmen choices. Furman and The Citadel had three each. - Furman’s Luke Petit (OL) and Ian Williams (PK), Mercer’s Brayden Smith (RS) and Andrew Zock (DL), Samford’s Alex Applefield (LS), and The Citadel’s James Platte (P) were repeat All-SoCon selections from the 2024 season.</div>

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All-Southern Conference football teams announced

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://mercerbears.com/news/2025/11/25/atkinson-among-30-finalists-for-walter-payton-award">
 Mercer's Atkinson Among 30 Finalists For Walter Payton Award
 </a>Atkinson, a native of Rolesville, N.C., and a product of Rolesville High School, has completed 68.1 percent (250-for-367) of his pass attempts this season and has already broken school single-season records for passing completions (250), attempts (367), yards (3,448) and touchdowns (34). He has thrown for 300 or more yards in eight of his 10 starts this season, including a school record 533 yards amid Mercer's 62-0 home win over VMI on October 25.   He has also, thrice, matched the program's single-game superlative for passing touchdowns with five scoring tosses against Samford, VMI and Chattanooga.   Atkinson currently ranks second among all FCS signal callers in passing yards, passing yards per game (344.8), passing touchdowns and completions per game (25.00), while ranking third, nationally, in points responsible for per game (21.0), total offense per game (345.8) and yards per pass attempt (9.40).<a href="https://catamountsports.com/news/2025/11/25/football-taron-dickens-named-a-finalist-for-the-2025-walter-payton-award.aspx">
 Western Carolina's Taron Dickens Named a Finalist for the 2025 Walter Payton Award
 </a>Dating back to 2015, Dickens is the fifth Catamount to advance to the finalist list, joining former QB <a href="https://catamountsports.com/sports/football/roster/cole-gonzales/13339">
 Cole Gonzales
 </a>, who appeared on the list twice over the past two seasons (2023, 2024), and finished a program-best 17th in the final voting in 2023. Other Catamount offensive players among the national finalists and their finishing order in the national vote include Troy Mitchell (2015, 25th), Detrez Newsome (2017, 24th), and Tyrie Adams (2018, 19th-t).   Dickens compiled arguably the best season ever by a Western Carolina and Southern Conference quarterback. The Miami, Fla., product amassed 3,829 yards of total offense over 462 plays between his nine starts, averaging a NCAA-best at all levels 425.4 yards per game, one of just two QBs nationally to finish the year above the 400-yard per game mark. He was second in the nation with 271 pass completions despite the three fewer games played than the national leader and was intercepted just twice among his 365 pass attempts – one coming on an end-of-half heave to the endzone. Among his completions on the season were 50 straight between the end of the Campbell game and 46-consecutive to open the Wofford road win, both NCAA records.   Dickens eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark seven times in his nine games, surpassing 400 yards four times with a pair of 500-yard passing efforts. He threw for a career-high – and NCAA FCS seasonal-best – 582 yards in his season debut against Samford back on Sept. 20. Dickens finished with a WCU single-season record – and NCAA FCS-leading – 3,508 passing yards on the year, averaging 389.8 yards per game to lead the nation.</div>

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Two SoCon Players Named finalist for Walter Payton Award

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://theanalyst.com/articles/buck-buchanan-award-finalists-fcs-football-2025">
 Stats Perform release
 </a><a href="https://furmanpaladins.com/news/2025/11/25/football-furmans-stoneking-named-finalist-for-buck-buchanan-award.aspx">
 Furman's Stoneking Named Finalist For Buck Buchanan Award
 </a>Stoneking, a 6-foot-3, 264-pound native of Raleigh, N.C., tallied a team leading 79 tackles and paced the FCS in both total tackles for loss (23.0) and sacks (14.5) this season. He was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week a league best three times this fall. In Furman's 28-24 win over Campbell on Sept. 13 he tallied six tackles, including 4.5 for a loss of 21 yards, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. His final sack, which came on fourth down and with 16 seconds on the clock a dnd Campbell at Furman's 17-yard line, preserved the win for the Paladins. <a href="https://mercerbears.com/news/2025/11/25/football-zock-one-of-30-finalists-for-buck-buchanan-award">
 Mercer's Zock One Of 30 Finalists For Buck Buchanan Award
 </a>Zock has totaled 41 tackles (23 solo), including a school record 20.0 tackles for loss (-109 yards), across 11 starts this season, while also turning in 22 quarterback hurries, three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He has also logged a single season school record sack total (11.5). He has tallied multiple tackles for loss in seven outings, including a season-best 4-1/2 drops behind the line in Mercer's Week 3 win over Wofford.   The Citra, Fla., native has accumulated 34-1/2 tackles for loss (18-1/2 sacks) in two seasons and 25 games in the Orange & Black. He also boasts a school record 36 quarterback hurries.<a href="https://woffordterriers.com/news/2025/11/25/football-maximus-pulley-named-finalist-for-buck-buchanan-award.aspx">
 Wofford's Maximus Pulley Named Finalist for Buck Buchanan Award
 </a>Pulley, a fifth-year senior from Fort Worth, Texas, started eleven games for the Terriers this season and is second on the team in tackles with 85. His five interceptions lead the Southern Conference and are the second-most in the nation. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns, which is tied for the most in the nation. Pulley added 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass break-ups, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt.   Pulley is the fourth Terrier to be named a finalist, joining Matt Nelson (2003), Lee Basinger (2004), and Ameet Pall (2010).</div>

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Three SoCon Players Named Finalists for 2025 Buck Buchanan Award

<div class="payload-richtext"><a href="https://theanalyst.com/articles/jerry-rice-award-freshman-finalists-fcs-football-2025">
 Stats Perform Release
 </a><a href="https://furmanpaladins.com/news/2025/11/24/football-furmans-james-named-jerry-rice-award-finalist.aspx">
 Furman's James Named Jerry Rice Award Finalist
 </a>James, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound product of Apopoka, Fla., caught a team leading 65 passes for 796 yards and seven touchdowns and also rushed for a score this season for the Paladins, setting new school freshman records in all three categories despite missing three games due to injury. His 65 catches ranked fourth overall, 796 receiving yards seventh all-time, and seven touchdowns tied for eight  all-time in a season among all Paladin receivers. <a href="https://mercerbears.com/news/2025/11/24/football-atkinson-among-lists-of-finalists-for-jerry-rice-award">
 Mercer's Atkinson Among Lists Of Finalists For Jerry Rice Award
 </a>Atkinson, a native of Rolesville, N.C., and a product of Rolesville High School, has completed 68.1 percent (250-for-367) of his pass attempts this season and has already broken school single-season records for passing completions (250), attempts (367), yards (3,448) and touchdowns (34). He has thrown for 300 or more yards in eight of his 10 starts this season, including a school record 533 yards amid Mercer's 62-0 home win over VMI on October 25. He has also, thrice, matched the program's single-game superlative for passing touchdowns with five scoring tosses against Samford, VMI and Chattanooga.   Atkinson currently ranks second among all FCS signal callers in passing yards, passing yards per game (344.8), passing touchdowns and completions per game (25.00), while ranking third, nationally, in points responsible for per game (21.0), total offense per game (345.8) and yards per pass attempt (9.40).<a href="https://woffordterriers.com/news/2025/11/24/football-darius-malcom-jr-named-finalist-for-jerry-rice-award.aspx">
 Wofford's Darius Malcom Jr. Named Finalist for Jerry Rice Award
 </a> Malcolm, a second-year freshman from Atlanta, Georgia, is third on the team in total tackles with 76. He has 13 pass break-ups and 4.0 tackles for loss. Among SoCon leaders, he is 16th in total tackles and first in pass break-ups. He is also ranked 15th in the nation in pass break-ups.</div>

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Three SoCon players Named Finalists for 15th Annual Jerry Rice Award

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference Football Players of the Week presented by Southern Recognition were awarded for all games played on Nov. 22. Western Carolina quarterback Taron Dickens was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Wofford defensive lineman Brandon Maina was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Catamounts kicker Bryan McCollum was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.   OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina, Miami, Fla.Dickens accounted for four touchdowns in Western Carolina’s 48-6 win over VMI. The native of Miami, Florida, logged 362 yards of total offense, throwing for 330 yards and rushing for 32 yards. The redshirt sophomore had touchdown passes of 12, 1 and 22 yards, along with a 3-yard score on the ground, marking his first touchdown run of the season. Dickens broke the SoCon’s single-season record for touchdown passes in the contest, bringing his season total to 38 to top the mark of 36 set by Samford’s Micheal Hiers in 2022 and Devlin Hodges in 2016. Dickens leads the FCS in passing yards (3,508). Other nominees: Devontae Houston (ETSU), Adjatay Dabbs (Mercer), and JT Fayard (Wofford)   DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brandon Maina, Sr., DL, Wofford, Hiram, Ga.Maina had nine tackles, including 2.5 sacks, one quarterback hurry and a forced fumble in Wofford’s 35-13 win against Chattanooga. The senior logged two of his sacks in the first half and the shared sack in the fourth quarter. The product of Hiram, Georgia, led a defense that held the Mocs scoreless in the second half. Maina finished the season with 11 sacks, which is ranked fifth in program history. Other nominees: Ty Anderson (ETSU), Isaac Prince (Mercer), Jaden Mosley (Samford), and Jordan Thompson (Western Carolina)    SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bryan McCollum, Fr., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C. McCollum, who was making his collegiate debut at VMI, scored 12 points on Saturday. The freshman was 6-for-6 on PAT attempts and made field goals from 24 and 29 yards out. The native of Sanford, North Carolina, is the younger brother of former Catamount kicker Richard McCollum, who finished second in WCU's all-time record books with 300 career points. Other nominees: Cavan Craig (Wofford)  2025 SoCon Football Players of the Week Offensive Sept. 1             Devontae Houston, Gr., RB, ETSU Sept. 8             Javonte Graves-Billips, Gr., WR, The Citadel Sept. 15            Trey Hedden, So., QB, Furman Sept. 22            Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina  Sept. 29            CJ Miller, R-Jr., RB, Mercer Oct. 6               Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina Oct. 13             Braden Atkinson, Fr., QB, Mercer Oct. 20             Brady Stober, Fr., QB, Samford Oct. 27             Braden Atkinson, Fr., QB, Mercer Nov. 3              Braden Atkinson, Fr., QB, Mercer Nov. 10             Battle Alberson, R-Fr., QB, Chattanooga Nov. 17             Braden Atkinson, Fr., QB, Mercer Nov. 24             Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina  Defensive Sept. 1             Taylen Blaylock, Gr., DB, FurmanSept. 8             CJ Coombes, So., DB, Wofford Sept. 15            Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, FurmanSept. 22            Julian Fox, R-So., LB, MercerSept. 29            Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, FurmanOct. 6               Jordan Miller, R-Fr., DB, FurmanOct. 13             Ken Moore Jr., Jr., DB, Western CarolinaOct. 20             Javario Tinch, So., LB, WoffordOct. 27             Joshua Stoneking, R-So., DE, FurmanNov. 3              Maximus Pulley, Sr., DB, WoffordNov. 10             Maximus Pulley, Sr., DB, WoffordNov. 17             Andrew Zock, So., DE, MercerNov. 24             Brandon Maina, Sr., DL, Wofford  Special teams Sept. 1             Ian Williams, Gr., PK, FurmanSept. 8             Bradlee Jones, Jr., DB, The CitadelSept. 15            AJ Little, R-So., WR, ChattanoogaSept. 22            Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, MercerSept. 29            Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, MercerOct. 6               Ben Shrewsbury, Jr., K/P, VMIOct. 13             Xavier Gaillardetz, R-Jr., WR, ETSUOct. 20             Jude Kelley, R-Sr., PK, ChattanoogaOct. 27             Ian Williams, Gr., PK, FurmanNov. 3              Cavan Craig, R-Fr., P, WoffordNov. 10             Reice Griffith, Jr., PK, MercerNov. 17             Jackson Crosby, Gr., WR, ETSUNov. 24             Bryan McCollum, Fr., PK, Western Carolina</div>

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