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 Western Carolina kicker Bryan McCollum was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Maina, a fifth-year senior from Hiram, Georgia, was second on the team with nine tackles in the win over Chattanooga. He had two solo sacks in the first half and shared a sack in the fourth quarter. On his second sack of the game, he forced a fumble. The Wofford defense held the Mocs scoreless in the second half.
 
On the season, he has 15 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. The eleven sacks rank fifth in school history in a single season. Among the national leaders, Maina is fourth in sacks (1.10 per game) and sixth in tackles for loss (1.50 per game).  
 
This is the first Player of the Week honor of his career, and it is the fifth Defensive Player of the Week honor for the team this season.