SPARTANBURG, S.C. –Southern Conference champion Samford was very well represented when the league office announced postseason awards on Tuesday highlighted by Chris Hatcher being named unanimous Coach of the Year and quarterback Michael Hiers being selected as unanimous Offensive Player of the Year.
In addition, 11 Bulldogs earned All-SoCon recognition, including a trio of first-team selections. Offensive lineman Gavin Orr and wide receiver Chandler Smith were named to the first team by the media, while Hiers was a unanimous selection at first-team quarterback.
Offensive lineman Jabari Brooks and wide receiver Kendall Watson were unanimous second-team selections. At the same time, linebacker Nathan East, defensive back Hakeem Johnson and punter Bradley Porcellato were named to the second team by the coaches.
Running back Jaylan Thomas, defensive lineman Seth Simmer and defensive back Isaiah Richardson landed on the media's second team.
Hiers, the two-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Month, threw for 3,290 yards on 329-of-428 passing and 35 touchdowns, which is one shy of tying the single-season program record of 36 set by previous SoCon Offensive Player of the Year Delvin Hodges. The junior also ran for 161 yards and three scores on the ground.
As of the end of the FCS regular season, Hiers leads all Division I passers with a 76.9 completion percentage. The Birmingham native ranks Top 10 nationally in completions per game (29.91/1st), passing efficiency (166.4/8th), passing touchdowns (35/3rd), passing yards (3,290/7th), passing yards per game (299.1/4th), points responsible for (228/3rd), points
responsible per game (20.7/3rd) and total offense (313.7/4th).
Hiers is the third Samford quarterback to claim SoCon Offensive Player of the Year honors. Devlin Hodges took the distinction in three straight seasons (2016-18), while Liam Welch claimed it in the 2020-21 season.
Hatcher is the second Bulldog coach to claim SoCon Coach of the Year honors, joining the great Pat Sullivan, who won it in 2012. Hatcher passed Sullivan for the most wins in program history this season, as he currently has 50 in his eighth season at the helm.
Hatcher led the Bulldogs to their first outright Southern Conference championship in program history with a 10-1 record. The Bulldogs' lone loss of the season came on the road at defending FBS national champion Georgia. Samford earned the No. 6 overall seed for the NCAA playoffs, which is the highest in school history.
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