The Southern Conference announced its SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO on Monday, for games Nov. 23. VMI wide receiver Jakob Herres was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while teammate and defensive lineman Jarrod Richmond was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Furman kicker Grayson Atkins earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The players of the week are selected by the league office and are the final ones of the season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jakob Herres, VMI, So., WR, Easton, Pa.
VMI wide receiver Jakob Herres caught eight passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the Keydets’ 31-24 win over Chattanooga, averaging 19.1 yards per catch. Herres’ first TD reception went for 13 yards in the second quarter, tying the game at 10. The Easton, Pennsylvania, sophomore added a 54-yard on VMI’s second play from scrimmage after halftime to make it a 24-10 contest. The Keydets would go on to win their fifth game of the season, their most since 2003, and their fourth conference game, their most since 1979.
Other nominees: Tyray Devezin (Mercer), Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks (Chattanooga), Tyrie Adams (Western Carolina) and Nathan Walker (Wofford).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jarrod Richmond, VMI, Sr., DL, Bluefield, Va.
VMI defensive lineman Jarrod Richmond had eight tackles, two quarterback hurries and a fumble return for a touchdown in the Keydets’ win over Chattanooga, which gave VMI its most overall wins since 2003 and most conference wins in 40 years. The senior from Bluefield, Virginia, who recorded two solo stops, scooped up a loose ball at the VMI 36-yard line and returned it 64 yards for a score to make it 31-10 in the Keydets’ favor, scoring what would prove to be the winning touchdown.
Other nominees: Cameron Coleman (Furman), Eric Jackson (Mercer), Nathan East (Samford), Marshall Cooper (Chattanooga), Ty Harris (Western Carolina) and Robbie Armstrong (Wofford).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Grayson Atkins, Furman, Jr., K, Inman, S.C.
Furman kicker Grayson Atkins claimed his fifth honor of the season and the eighth of his career with another outstanding all-around effort in the Paladins’ 64-7 win over Point on a rainy Saturday. The junior from Inman, South Carolina, scored 13 points on the day, converting all seven of his point-after attempts and hitting field goals of 28 and 45 yards. Atkins, who has converted 22 of his last 23 field-goal tries, also kicked off 11 times on the day, putting eight into the end zone with one touchback and averaging 58.8 yards per kick.
Other nominees: Bradley Porcellato (Samford), Colin Brewer (Chattanooga), Julian Pletz (Western Carolina) and Luke Carter (Wofford).
2019 SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO
Offensive
Sept. 2 Chris Oladokun, Jr., QB, Samford
Sept. 9 Darren Grainger, R-Fr., QB, Furman
Sept. 16 Chris Oladokun, Jr., QB, Samford
Sept. 23 Chris Oladokun, Jr., QB, Samford
Sept. 30 Liam Welch, Jr., QB, Samford
Oct. 7 Devin Wynn, Jr., TB, Furman
Oct. 14 Alex Ramsey, R-Jr., RB, VMI
Oct. 21 Joe Newman, Sr., QB, Wofford
Oct. 28 Joe Newman, Sr., QB, Wofford
Nov. 4 Donnavan Spencer, R-Jr., RB, Western Carolina
Nov. 11 Devin Wynn, Jr., TB, Furman
Nov. 18 Quay Holmes, R-So., RB, ETSU
Nov. 25 Jakob Herres, So., WR, VMI
Defensive
Sept. 2 Marshall Cooper, Sr., LB, Chattanooga
Sept. 9 Kaleb Tucker, Sr., DB, VMI
Sept. 16 Braden Gilby, R-Fr., LB, Furman
Sept. 23 Jireh Wilson, Sr., LB, Wofford
Sept. 30 Artevius Smith, R-Sr., DB, ETSU
Oct. 7 Ty Boeck, So., LB, Chattanooga
Oct. 14 Marquise Blount, So., LB, The Citadel
Oct. 21 Marquise Blount, So., LB, The Citadel
Oct. 28 Artevius Smith, R-Sr., DB, ETSU
Nov. 4 Sidney Otiwu, R-Jr., LB, Mercer
Nov. 11 Ty Harris, Jr., LB, Western Carolina
Nov. 18 Jayden Pauling, R-So., LB, Western Carolina
Nov. 25 Jarrod Richmond, Sr., DL, VMI
Special teams
Sept. 2 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman
Sept. 9 Sean-Thomas Faulkner, R-So., DB, The Citadel
Sept. 16 Jacob Godek, Sr., K, The Citadel
Sept. 23 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman
Sept. 30 Mitchell Fineran, So., PK, Samford
Oct. 7 Grant Clemons, Sr., K, VMI
Oct. 14 Grant Clemons, Sr., K, VMI
Oct. 21 Jacob Godek, Sr., K, The Citadel
Oct. 28 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman
Nov. 4 Julian Pletz, R-Fr., PK, Western Carolina
Nov. 11 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman
Nov. 18 Montrell Washington, WR/KR, Jr., Samford
Nov. 25 Grayson Atkins, Jr., K, Furman