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WEEK 8 SOCON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ken Moore Jr., Jr., DB, Western Carolina, Miami, Fla.,...Moore had two interceptions and a tackle for loss in Western Carolina's 52-7 win over Furman on Saturday. In the second quarter, the junior logged his tackle for loss before returning his first pick of the day 64 yards for a touchdown with 1:38 on the clock. Moore's touchdown was the team's first defensive score of the season. The product of Miami, Florida, got his second interception of the day inside the Catamounts' endzone, ending Furman's drive and keeping the squad ahead 31-7 with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter. Western Carolina, who is on a four-game winning streak, received votes in the AFCA and Stats Perform polls. Other nominees: William Wells (ETSU), Isaac Prince (Mercer), Kouri Crump (VMI), and Marion Smokes (Wofford). - SoCon Football

(DS#999 CB) rJr/2027

CB Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina
News Source: SoCon Football
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10/18/25 - Taron Dickens, rSo/2028, Western Carolina, 5-10, 180 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Taron Dickens threw for 369 yards with five touchdowns and Western Carolina defeated The Citadel 45-38 on Saturday. Dickens powered the top offense in the Southern Conference, completing 28 of 33 passes, and his 18-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Dutton gave the Catamounts a 45-31 lead with 3 minutes remaining in the game. The Citadel led 14-7 after one quarter before a short touchdown pass by Dickens and a 7-yard touchdown run from Markel Townsend helped Western Carolina (5-3, 4-0 Southern Conference) take a 24-17 lead at halftime.

Two more Dickens' TDs, the second a 37-yard connection with Malik Knight, led to a 38-24 lead through three quarters. The Bulldogs cut their deficit to seven points twice in the fourth quarter but a 38-yard non-scoring run by Townsend helped the Catamounts run out the clock. James Tyre had 112 yards and a touchdown catch for Western Carolina and Knight's 103 yards included two touchdowns. Townsend had 90 yards rushing. The Citadel (3-4, 2-2) had 278 rushing yards, led by quarterback Quentin Hayes with 90 yards but the Bulldogs attempted only nine passes despite trailing much of the last three quarters. Western Carolina has won five straight after starting the season 0-3. - AP College Football

(DS#999 QB) rSo/2028

QB Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
News Source: AP College Football
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10/14/25 - Taron Dickens, rSo/2028, Western Carolina, 5-10, 180 (DS#999 QB) + More +

WEEK 6 SOCON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina, Miami, Fla.,...Dickens, who also won the honor on Sept. 22, set an NCAA passing record in Western Carolina's 23-21 road win at Wofford on Saturday. The native of Miami, Florida, threw for 378 yards, completing 53-of-56 passes, including connecting on his first 46 attempts, and three touchdowns. Dickens also ran for 44 yards in the contest. The 46 straight completions to begin the game established a new NCAA record for consecutive pass completions in a game at all levels of competition - NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III. The previous record was 28, set in 2013 by Princeton's Quinn Epperly. Dickens' 53 completions also set the school record for completions in a game, breaking Troy Mitchell's mark of 46, which was set in 2014 at USF. Dickens was named the Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week on Monday. On Saturday, he was featured on a segment on ESPN's SportsCenter and College Football Final, receiving a helmet sticker for his play against the Terriers. Other nominees: Devontae Houston (ETSU), Trey Hedden (Furman), Braden Atkinson (Mercer), Samuel Pickett III (Samford), Justus Durant (Chattanooga), and Noah Grevious (VMI). - SoCon Football

(DS#999 QB) rSo/2028

QB Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
News Source: SoCon Football
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10/14/25 - Ken Moore Jr., rJr/2027, Western Carolina, 5-09, 160 (DS#999 CB) + More +

WEEK 7 SOCON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ken Moore Jr., Jr., DB, Western Carolina, Miami, Fla.,...Moore had two interceptions and a tackle for loss in Western Carolina's 52-7 win over Furman on Saturday. In the second quarter, the junior logged his tackle for loss before returning his first pick of the day 64 yards for a touchdown with 1:38 on the clock. Moore's touchdown was the team's first defensive score of the season. The product of Miami, Florida, got his second interception of the day inside the Catamounts' endzone, ending Furman's drive and keeping the squad ahead 31-7 with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter. Western Carolina, who is on a four-game winning streak, received votes in the AFCA and Stats Perform polls. Other nominees: William Wells (ETSU), Isaac Prince (Mercer), Kouri Crump (VMI), and Marion Smokes (Wofford). - SoCon Football

(DS#999 CB) rJr/2027

CB Ken Moore Jr., Western Carolina
News Source: SoCon Football
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10/11/25 - Taron Dickens, rSo/2028, Western Carolina, 5-10, 180 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Taron Dickens threw four touchdown passes, and the Western Carolina defense forced four turnovers in a 52-7 win over Furman in a Southern Conference rout on Saturday afternoon. Furman (4-2, 2-1) was derailed by turnovers. Despite a scoreless first quarter on either side, the game got away from the Paladins in the second frame.

After a 50-yard touchdown strike from Dickens to Michael Rossin, Gavin Hall returned the ball to the Catamounts (4-3, 3-0) on a fumble. Dickens found Joshua Perry on a 9-yard passing score for a 17-0 lead and a second touchdown in less than three minutes. A week after setting the FCS record with 46 consecutive completions to start the game, Dickens was 17 of 24 for 220 yards with another 60 on the ground. He was pulled at the 7:48 mark in the fourth quarter. Ken Moore Jr. led the Catamounts with two interceptions. Hasaan Sykes had the other. Trey Hedden was 18 of 35 for 208 yards and a touchdown for Furman. He had three interceptions and one fumble that the Paladins recovered. - AP College Football

(DS#999 QB) rSo/2028

QB Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
News Source: AP College Football
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10/07/25 - Taron Dickens, rSo/2028, Western Carolina, 5-10, 180 (DS#999 QB) + More +

WEEK 6 FCS NATIONAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taron Dickens, Western Carolina, QB, R-So., 5-11, 180,...Dickens shattered NCAA and FCS single-game records with 46 straight completions to begin Western Carolina's 23-21 win at Wofford in the Southern Conference. He finished 53-for-56 for 378 yards and three touchdowns, with the 94.6 completion percentage also an FCS record for a quarterback with 30+ completions. Dating to the Catamounts' Sept. 27 victory at Campbell, Dickens completed 50 straight pass attempts over the consecutive road games. Honorable Mention: Trey Hedden, QB, Furman; JaCobian Morgan, QB, Jackson State; Rodney Nelson, RB, Monmouth; Brady Olson, QB, Central Connecticut State; Chris Parson, QB, Austin Peay; L.J. Phillips Jr., RB, South Dakota; Michael Wortham, WR/RS, Montana. - Stats Perform FCS

(DS#999 QB) rSo/2028

QB Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
News Source: Stats Perform FCS
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09/27/25 - Taron Dickens, rSo/2028, Western Carolina, 5-10, 180 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Taron Dickens threw for 427 yards with four touchdown passes and Western Carolina defeated Campbell 42-35 on Saturday. The Catamounts scored 21 points in the second quarter and led 28-10 at halftime. Dickens' fourth TD pass - 10 yards to Patrick Boyd Jr. - made it 35-10 early in the third quarter. David Hulbert, Brayden Blackmon and Marcus Striggles also caught scoring passes from Dickens, who completed 26 of 40 passes. Wide receiver James Tyre threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Painter Richards-Baker for the Catamounts' final score and a 42-28 lead. Tyre caught six passes for 101 yards and Richards-Baker grabbed five for 99 yards for the Catamounts (2-3). Kamden Sixkiller threw for 205 yards and led the Fighting Camels (1-4) in rushing with 55 yards. Trayjen Llanas-Wilcox caught five passes for 124 yards. - AP College Football

(DS#999 QB) rSo/2028

QB Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
News Source: AP College Football
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09/23/25 - Taron Dickens, rSo/2028, Western Carolina, 5-10, 180 (DS#999 QB) + More +

WEEK 4 SOCON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taron Dickens, R-So., QB, Western Carolina, Miami, Fla.,...Dickens had one of the best passing games in SoCon history during Western Carolina's 50-35 victory over Samford. The redshirt sophomore went 35-for-46 through the air, finishing with 582 yards and a career-high six touchdown passes. His 582 passing yards, which were the second-most in conference history, and six passing scores set Whitmore Stadium records. The native of Miami, Florida, also ran for 42 yards, giving him a program-record 624 yards of total offense. Dickens' six touchdown passes also matched a Catamount record for one game. Other nominees: Ephraim Floyd (ETSU), Braden Atkinson (Mercer), Quincy Crittendon (Samford), Ryan Merklinger (Chattanooga), and Owen Sweeney (VMI). - SoCon Football

(DS#999 QB) rSo/2028

QB Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
News Source: SoCon Football
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09/20/25 - Taron Dickens, rSo/2028, Western Carolina, 5-10, 180 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Taron Dickens had career highs with 582 yards passing and six touchdowns and Western Carolina pulled away from Samford in the third quarter for a 50-35 victory on Saturday night. Dickens was 35-of-46 passing and connected with 10 receivers. Camury Reid caught three touchdown passes and finished with four receptions for 107 yards, and he added 39 yards rushing and a short-yardage touchdown run.

Western Carolina (1-3, 1-0 Southern Conference) built a 21-20 halftime lead before Dickens threw three touchdown passes, including his 62-yarder to Reid, that capped a 29-point third quarter and stretched the Catamounts' lead to 50-26. Painter Richards-Baker, Josiah Thomas and James Tyre each had a touchdown catch and combined for 16 receptions for 191 yards for the Catamounts. Quincy Crittendon was 35-of-54 passing for 456 yards and threw each of his three touchdown passes to Calvin Jones, who finished with seven catches for 108 yards. C.J. Evans had a 32-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for Samford (0-4, 0-2). Jaden Gibson had nine receptions for 122 yards. - AP College Football

(DS#999 QB) rSo/2028

QB Taron Dickens, Western Carolina
News Source: AP College Football
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11/22/22 - K.J. Milner, rSr/2023, Western Carolina, 6-3, 265 (DS#66 DE) + More +

NOV 21 SOCON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: KJ Milner, Sr., DE, Western Carolina, Hinesville, Ga.,...Western Carolina defensive end KJ Milner had seven tackles, including a sack, and two quarterback hurries as the Catamounts toppled No. 17/15 Chattanooga on Saturday, 32-29. The Hinesville, Georgia, senior, who battled through the flu late in the week, picked up a one-yard sack on a third-and-19 play in the third quarter, forcing a Chattanooga punt. Milner, who had three solo stops and four assisted tackles in his final game for the Catamounts, paced a Western Carolina defense that helped the squad to its first win over a nationally ranked FCS opponent since 2017 and its first winning record (6-5) since 2017. Other nominees: Ja'Varius Harrison (ETSU), Jack Barton (Furman), Ken Standley (Mercer), Fred Flavors (Samford), Devonnsha Maxwell (Chattanooga) and Stone Snyder (VMI). - SoCon Football

(DS#66 DE) rSr/2023

DE K.J. Milner, Western Carolina
News Source: SoCon Football
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11/19/22 - TJ Jones, Sr/2023, Western Carolina, 5-09, 193 (DS#999 RB) + More +

TJ Jones scored on a 1-yard run in the final minute, lifting Western Carolina to a 32-29 victory over Chattanooga on Saturday. Jones scored with 53 seconds remaining then the Catamounts stopped the Mocs on downs near midfield to preserve the win. A 26-yard touchdown pass from Preston Hutchinson to Camden Overton gave Chattanooga a 29-24 lead with 6:13 left. The Catamounts (6-5, 4-4 Southern Conference) then drove 75 yards in 14 plays capped by Jones's clinching touchdown. Hutchinson was 29-of-48 passing for 323 yards with four touchdowns for the Mocs (7-4, 5-3). He was intercepted once. Western Carolina's Cole Gonzales completed 24 of 38 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. - Western Carolina/AP College Football

(DS#999 RB) Sr/2023

RB TJ Jones, Western Carolina
News Source: Western Carolina/AP College Football
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11/16/22 - Richard McCollum, rSr/2024, Western Carolina, 5-06, 173 (DS#26 K) + More +

NOV 14 SOCON SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C.,...Western Carolina placekicker Richard McCollum earned his third weekly honor of the season after accounting for eight points in the Catamounts' 20-17 win at ETSU on Saturday to secure the Blue Ridge Border Battle trophy. The redshirt junior from Sanford, North Carolina, kicked a pair of field goals on the afternoon, converting from 40 yards with 1:33 left in the second quarter to draw the Catamounts within four points at 14-10 and then drilling a walk-off 33-yarder as time expired in the contest to lift WCU to victory. McCollum also added a pair of extra points on the day, pushing his career total to 201 points, sixth in program history. With 33 made field goals in his career, he is just two shy of third place in Western Carolina lore. Other nominees: Tyler Keltner (ETSU), Ian Williams (Furman), Trey Turk (Mercer), Bradley Porcellato (Samford), Jack Culbreath (VMI) and R.J. Khayo (Wofford). - SoCon Football

(DS#26 K) rSr/2024

K Richard McCollum, Western Carolina
News Source: SoCon Football
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10/14/22 - Richard McCollum, rSr/2024, Western Carolina, 5-06, 173 (DS#26 K) + More +

SEPT 26 SOCON SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C.,...Western Carolina placekicker Richard McCollum accounted for all of the Catamounts' scoring when he connected on a career-best four field goals in the 35-12 road loss at No. 22/21 Samford. The redshirt junior from Sanford, North Carolina, hit from 20 yards just before the half to get Western Carolina on the board before adding a 24-yarder and a 30-yarder in the third quarter. McCollum capped the scoring with a 31-yard effort in the fourth quarter, moving to 6-for-6 on the season and extending his overall streak to 19 consecutive field goal makes over the past three seasons. The selection is his second of the season. Other nominees: Erek Campbell (ETSU), Devin Folser (Mercer), Bradley Porcellato (Samford) and Gabe Boring (Chattanooga). - SoCon Football

(DS#26 K) rSr/2024

K Richard McCollum, Western Carolina
News Source: SoCon Football
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09/07/22 - Richard McCollum, rSr/2024, Western Carolina, 5-06, 173 (DS#26 K) + More +

SEPT 5 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina, Sanford, N.C.,...Western Carolina placekicker Richard McCollum scored 10 points in the Catamounts' season-opening 52-38 win at Charleston Southern on Saturday. The redshirt junior from Sanford, North Carolina, booted a 42-yard field goal just 3:29 into the game to open the scoring in the offensive slugfest. McCollum also converted all seven of his point-after-touchdown attempts on the afternoon, running his streak to 63 consecutive makes, which is two back of the program record set by Ken Hinsley from 1995-98. Dating back to last season, the Catamounts have now won five of their last six games after opening the 2021 campaign 0-6. Other nominees: Trace Kelley (ETSU), Ryan Leavy (Furman), Devron Harper (Mercer), Bradley Porcellato (Samford) and Andrew Southard (Chattanooga). - SoCon Football

(DS#26 K) rSr/2024

K Richard McCollum, Western Carolina
News Source: SoCon Football
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08/05/22 - Tate Rodemaker, rSr/2026, Western Carolina, 6-3, 196 (DS#57 QB) + More +

As Jordan Travis prepares to embark on his first season as the outright starting quarterback at Florida State, it's easy to see how crucial the redshirt junior is to the Seminoles' overall success this season. Sixteen quarterbacks have taken snaps for FSU over the past five seasons. Travis has had just 40% of the snaps over the past three seasons. The Seminoles are one twisted knee or sprained ankle away from being forced to rely on a backup. Tate Rodemaker has only been with Florida State for two seasons, but the redshirt sophomore looks ready and able.

Rodemaker was thrust into the starting job earlier than anticipated when he became the first true freshman to start a game when he led the Seminoles against Jacksonville State in Week 3 of the 2020 season. He's appeared in seven games, completing 58% of his 31 career attempts for 137 yards with no touchdowns and 3 interceptions. As the most experienced of the four backups to Travis, he figures to be a front-runner for the No. 2 spot. "Tate's growing," said coach Mike Norvell, "[with] his accuracy, arm strength and understanding of the offense. He made a couple of plays where things were in his face and he could still stick in and deliver the ball where we wanted. It's a process of growth." - Orlando Sentinel

(DS#57 QB) rSr/2026

QB Tate Rodemaker, Western Carolina
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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