After Week 2 action that saw Arkansas pull off a huge upset and end its 20-game SEC losing streak, and Alabama put up big numbers in the win over Texas A&M, this week’s SEC Players of the Week reflected those performances.
Alabama QB Mac Jones was the offensive player, and the Razorbacks had a pair of defenders take home the honor. On special teams, it was Ole Miss punter Mac Brown, Alabama’s Malachi Moore the freshman Player of the Week, and Zachary Taylor of Florida and Ben Cleveland of Georgia were honored with the linemen awards.
Jones turned in a career game in a 52-24 win over then-No. 13 Texas A&M with a career-best 435 yards, completing 74.1 percent of his passes. Jones posted a career-high four touchdowns including strikes of 78, 2, 87 and 63 yards. He leads the nation in passer rating at 222.1.
Pool made a career-best 20 total tackles in win over No. 16 Mississippi State and they’re the single-game high in the FBS this season. He is one of only nine SEC players in the last 10 years to have 20 or more tackles in a game. According to College Football Reference, one of only 19 players in the FBS since 2005 to have 20 or more tackles in a road win.
The Razorbacks also had Foucha and his career-best two interceptions in the win at No. 16 Mississippi State. He’s one of four FBS players this year with two interceptions and at least 0.5 tackles for loss – also leads players among this group with 26 INT return yards.
Brown’s 56-yard punt in the final minute of regulation flipped the field and helped Ole Miss to an overtime win at Kentucky. He made three 50-yard punts, including a season-long 59-yarder.
Moore made his second career start at star (nickelback) in the Tide’s 52-24 win. He recorded six tackles with four solo stops and made his first career interception, thwarting an Aggie drive in the end zone.
Carter made eight total tackles (five assisted/three solo) along with 1.5 sacks (-12 yards) on Saturday in Florida’s 38-24 win over South Carolina. It was the first time he had more than a full sack for the first time in his career in the win.
Cleveland had five knockdown blocks and graded out at 83 percent during the Bulldogs’ 27-6 dismantling of #7 Auburn. Part of a newly aligned unit after three 2019 OL members were drafted, Cleveland helped allow Georgia’s backs to go 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries (4.5 average).
Georgia QB Stetson Bennett was only sacked once.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
