GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas has unveiled its 2025-26 Finter Scholar-Athletes of the Year Presented by Hudl and Erskine's Gary Maddox III was named the league's football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The Scholar-Athlete awards Presented by Hudl are awarded annually to one individual in each Conference Carolinas sponsored sport. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners are chosen by the Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Affairs and Awards Committee.

To be considered, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher. In addition, the nominees for the award must have been named all-conference in their sport and also chosen academic all-conference.

Maddox III, a redshirt sophomore linebacker from Commerce, Georgia was a presence off the edge with game-changing plays for the Erskine defense all season long. He led the Fleet in sacks (4) and QB hurries (5), while finishing second on the team in tackles for loss (5.5) and third in total tackles (48). Maddox played in every game for the Fleet in 2025 and recorded Erskine's first safety since the program was revived in 2020, a sack safety to open the scoring against Chowan. A consistent performer, Maddox recorded a sack in five different contests and a tackle for loss in seven separate games.

2025-26 Conference Carolinas
Fall Scholar-Athletes of the Year presented by Hudl
Men's Cross Country: Josh Brett, Lees-McRae
Women's Cross Country: Campbell Dille, Lees-McRae
Football: Gary Maddox III, Erskine
Men's Soccer: Leho Le Louarn, Young Harris
Women's Soccer: Tehya Dave', Francis Marion
Women's Volleyball: Madilyn Gartner, Francis Marion