Atkinson, Zock On Watch List For Walter Camp Award

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. – Freshman quarterback Braden Atkinson and sophomore defensive end Andrew Zock found their names among the list of some of the nation's most elite college football standouts on Wednesday afternoon when the Mercer duo was among 15 names included on the watch list for the Walter Camp 2025 FCS Player of the Year award.

The watch list includes five running backs, four quarterbacks, three wide receivers and three defensive players. The Walter Camp FCS Player of the Year, presented by Crabtree Lexus of New Haven, will be determined in mid-December. It is the third year the Walter Camp Foundation has presented the award.

Atkinson and Zock joined Furman defensive lineman Joshua Stoneking as representatives from the Southern Conference that were included in Wednesday's announcement.

A product of Rolesville, N.C., Atkinson has already eclipsed Mercer single-season records for passing yards (3,238) and passing touchdowns (33), while completing 68.9 percent (230-for-334) of his pass attempts with just five interceptions. Atkinson paces all of NCAA Division I (FCS and FBS) in passing yards, while also pacing FCS in total offense (361.9 yards/game) and completions per game (25.56).

Zock, a Citra, Fla., native, has already shattered program superlatives for both single-season tackles for loss (18.5) and sacks (11.5), while also collecting a school record 22 quarterback hurries, three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. A preseason all-America pick by three different organizations, Zock has turned in at least one sack in seven outings this season, while logging multiple tackles for loss in five contests.

Sixth-ranked Mercer (9-1, 8-0 SoCon) will snap the lid on their regular season schedule on Saturday when it treks to southeast Alabama to take on Southeastern Conference foe Auburn (4-6, 1-6 SEC) in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

Atkinson, Zock On Watch List For Walter Camp Award

Players Mentioned

Braden Atkinson

Andrew Zock

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