CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Bolstered by an all-around masterful performance Saturday in the league kickoff at Samford, The Citadel graduate student
Javonte Graves-Billips along with junior
Bradlee Jones earned distinction as the Southern Conference Offensive & Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively.
A product of Mobile, Ala., the former electrified in his final foray to Birmingham as a Bulldog, pulling down a new career-best 139 receiving yards on six catches with a pair of touchdowns, notably grabbing the go-ahead score -- good for the program's first end zone visit of the season -- on a 43-yard bomb from
Cobey Thompkins midway through the second quarter. Late in the fourth, Graves-Billips later added a second receiving touchdown to serve as the final dagger for a struggling Samford, reeling in a 13-yard toss from fellow Alabama native
Quentin Hayes to lift The Citadel to a 33-13 edge.
"He's a dynamic playmaker for us," offensive coordinator
Lamar Owens said. "He is consistent in his preparation and made plays for the team on Saturday."
Meanwhile, Jones and the special teams crew took advantage of early-fourth quarter desperation from Samford, forcing a fumble on a disrupted fake field goal attempt en route to a 59-yard scoop and score for the junior cornerback, good for the second longest fumble recovery for a touchdown in program history. For the game, Jones tallied seven tackles -- including five solo -- with one pass breakup as well.
"Bradlee has emerged as the type of player opposing special teams units have to game plan for, he's a threat to block a kick every time," special teams coordinator
Tony Coaxum said of Jones. "And as made evident on Saturday, if he gets the ball in his hands like that, very few will catch him because he has elite speed."
Notably, the pair of SoCon Player of the Week recognitions for The Citadel serves as a first for the Bulldogs since Oct. 21, 2019, when Marquise Blount (Defensive) and Jacob Godek (Special Teams) performed the same feat.
-- #FireThoseCannons --
