Week 8 SEC Players of the Week
By: Josh Rultenberg
Updated: October 22, 2012
The SEC league office has announced its top performers for Week 8:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia: Murray completed 30 of 38 passes for a career-high 427 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in Georgia's 29-24 win at Kentucky. The 78.95 completion percentage against the Wildcats is a Georgia single-game record and his 30 completions were a career best. The 427 yards were fourth-highest in school history and second best in the SEC this season. Murray is now Georgia's career leader in touchdown passes (75), which is tied for ninth in SEC history.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kevin Minter, LB, LSU: Minter led the Tigers with 12 tackles, including a sack (minus-7 yards), an interception, one pass deflection and two quarterback pressures in LSU's 24-19 win at Texas A&M. He led an LSU defense that held the Aggies, the SEC's top scoring offense, to 28 points below their season average. The Tigers also held the SEC's leading rusher, quarterback Johnny Manziel, to just 27 yards on 17 attempts and no touchdowns for the first time this season. Minter's third-quarter interception halted an A&Mdrive in LSU territory.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kyle Christy, P, Florida: Christy set a Gator single-game record, averaging 54.3 yards on seven punts, in Florida's 44-11 win against South Carolina. Six of his punts were for more than 50 yards, including a season-long 62 yarder and had one punt inside the 20-yard line. The 62-yard punt marked the third time in his career Christy has had a punt for more than 60 yards. Overall, he owns 24 punts more than 50 yards in just two seasons for the Gators. Christy leads the nation and the SEC in punting average with a 47.49 average this season.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Joe Townsend, C, Vanderbilt: Making the second start of his career, Townsend had 10 knockdown blocks in Vanderbilt's 17-13 win against Auburn. He also had four key blocks that led to either touchdowns or first downs for the Commodores. Townsend topped the Vanderbilt offensive line corps with a 88 percent performance grade and 97 percent effort grade. His performance helped senior Zac Stacy set the team's all-time rushing yardage record during a 169-yard effort.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M: Moore led Texas A&M with 10 total tackles, including eight solo stops with two for loss (minus-4 yards), including a sack, a pass deflection and a quarterback pressure in the Aggies' 24-19 loss to LSU. Outside of LSU's three touchdown plays (combined 96 yards), the Aggie defense gave up 220 yards on 71 plays. Moore leads all FBS players in tackles for loss (2.43 per game) and sacks (1.36 per game) this season.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama: Cooper set an Alabama freshman receiving record with 162 yards on seven receptions and two touchdowns in the Tide's 44-13 win at Tennessee. He scored the first touchdown of the game on a 23-yard pass and added a 42-yard TD catch in the third quarter. Cooper leads the Tide in receiving yards (425), touchdown catches (5) and receptions (28). Cooper's 15.18 yards per catch this season is third among all FBS freshmen.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia: Murray completed 30 of 38 passes for a career-high 427 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in Georgia's 29-24 win at Kentucky. The 78.95 completion percentage against the Wildcats is a Georgia single-game record and his 30 completions were a career best. The 427 yards were fourth-highest in school history and second best in the SEC this season. Murray is now Georgia's career leader in touchdown passes (75), which is tied for ninth in SEC history.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kevin Minter, LB, LSU: Minter led the Tigers with 12 tackles, including a sack (minus-7 yards), an interception, one pass deflection and two quarterback pressures in LSU's 24-19 win at Texas A&M. He led an LSU defense that held the Aggies, the SEC's top scoring offense, to 28 points below their season average. The Tigers also held the SEC's leading rusher, quarterback Johnny Manziel, to just 27 yards on 17 attempts and no touchdowns for the first time this season. Minter's third-quarter interception halted an A&Mdrive in LSU territory.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kyle Christy, P, Florida: Christy set a Gator single-game record, averaging 54.3 yards on seven punts, in Florida's 44-11 win against South Carolina. Six of his punts were for more than 50 yards, including a season-long 62 yarder and had one punt inside the 20-yard line. The 62-yard punt marked the third time in his career Christy has had a punt for more than 60 yards. Overall, he owns 24 punts more than 50 yards in just two seasons for the Gators. Christy leads the nation and the SEC in punting average with a 47.49 average this season.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Joe Townsend, C, Vanderbilt: Making the second start of his career, Townsend had 10 knockdown blocks in Vanderbilt's 17-13 win against Auburn. He also had four key blocks that led to either touchdowns or first downs for the Commodores. Townsend topped the Vanderbilt offensive line corps with a 88 percent performance grade and 97 percent effort grade. His performance helped senior Zac Stacy set the team's all-time rushing yardage record during a 169-yard effort.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M: Moore led Texas A&M with 10 total tackles, including eight solo stops with two for loss (minus-4 yards), including a sack, a pass deflection and a quarterback pressure in the Aggies' 24-19 loss to LSU. Outside of LSU's three touchdown plays (combined 96 yards), the Aggie defense gave up 220 yards on 71 plays. Moore leads all FBS players in tackles for loss (2.43 per game) and sacks (1.36 per game) this season.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama: Cooper set an Alabama freshman receiving record with 162 yards on seven receptions and two touchdowns in the Tide's 44-13 win at Tennessee. He scored the first touchdown of the game on a 23-yard pass and added a 42-yard TD catch in the third quarter. Cooper leads the Tide in receiving yards (425), touchdown catches (5) and receptions (28). Cooper's 15.18 yards per catch this season is third among all FBS freshmen.
