The Championship Subdivision News Log

The Southern Conference announced its October players of the month today, highlighting excellence among student-athletes in the second full month of competition for the 2009-10 academic year. The players of the month are nominated by each member institution and selected by the conference office.

FOOTBALL

Offense

Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, Sr., QB

Edwards averaged 403 yards of total offense and nearly four touchdowns per game over five contests while engineering an offense that amassed 2,999 yards (599.8 ypg) and 233 points (46.6 ppg). Appalachian State was 5-0 overall and 4-0 in SoCon play during the month of October as Edwards rushed for 391 yards and nine touchdowns while passing for 1,654 yards and nine more scores with only one interception. The senior became the first player in NCAA Division I (FCS or FBS) history with 9,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards in a career on Oct. 31.

Other Nominees: Terrell Hudgins (Elon), Adam Urbano (Georgia Southern), Van Dyke Jones (The Citadel), Blue Cooper (Chattanooga), Mitch Allen (Wofford) and Dion Wilson (Western Carolina).

Defense

Josh Beard, Chattanooga, Sr., DE

Beard leads the nation with 10.5 sacks with seven of those coming in the month of October. Beard also tallied 25 tackles and four quarterback hurries in addition to a forced fumbled. He was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after putting up seven tackles and two sacks at Samford on Oct. 10 and followed that with a career-high eight tackles at Elon.

Other Nominees: D.J. Smith (Appalachian State), Bryce Smith (Samford), Adrian McLeod (Western Carolina), Kyle Anderson (The Citadel), Joshua Jones (Elon), Kadarron Anderson (Furman), Dion Dubose (Georgia Southern) and Keaton Thompson (Wofford).

By Southern Conference Media Relations