Editor’s note: Tennessee plays tonight, so the Vols could have a player or two on this list by Monday morning.
SEC WEEK 1 NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
- Markus Golden, Mizzou (10 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks vs. South Dakota State) — The Tigers’ top defensive player had his way with the Jackrabbits and was a constant disruption in the backfield with three tackles behind the line of scrimmage and a pair of sacks.
- Trey Flowers, Arkansas (9 tackles, TFL vs. Auburn) — The Razorbacks’ top defender up front fought off blocks against Auburn’s rush-heavy attack to record nine stops, second only to Alan Turner’s 10 tackles.
- Regie Meant, Kentucky (4 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks vs. UT Martin) — Defensive ends Za’Darius Smith and Bud Dupree were relatively quiet as the headliners, but Meant made his presence felt with a team-high two sacks.
- Danielle Hunter, LSU (7 tackles, TFL vs. Wisconsin) — Hunter did his best to keep the Badgers’ running game at bay with seven stops off the edge.
- Shane Ray, Mizzou (6 tackles, sack vs. South Dakota State) — Ray was around the football throughout and pushed his career sack total to 5.5.
LINEBACKERS
- Amarlo Herrera, Georgia (12 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks vs. Clemson) — Herrera headlined a dominant group of linebackers for the Bulldogs with a team-high 12 stops and two sacks. Paired with Floyd (2 sacks) and Ramik Wilson (7 tackles) in the heart of Jeremy Pruitt’s defense, Herrera flourished.
- Leonard Floyd, Georgia (7 tackles, 2 sacks vs. Clemson) — Tenacious off the edge, Floyd led a feisty front seven in the second half that held the Tigers scoreless.
- Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn (6 tackles, 2 TFL, sack, FF, vs. Arkansas) — McKinzy showed a quick adjustment to his new spot in the middle and did a little bit of everything against the Razorbacks with a forced fumble, two tackles behind the line a scrimmage and a sack.
- Brooks Ellis, Arkansas (8 tackles, 2.5 TFL, vs. Auburn) — Ellis had his number called several times in the first half against Auburn’s zone-read scheme and recorded a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
- Michael Scherer, Mizzou (9 tackles, .5 TFL vs. South Dakota State) — Sideline to sideline, this sophomore posted a career-high nine stops against the Jackrabbits.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
- Jermaine Whitehead, Auburn (7 tackles, INT return TD vs. Arkansas) — Whitehead’s pick-six in the third quarter gave the Tigers a commanding 35-21 lead. It was his second career interception return for a touchdown.
- Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss (8 tackles, 1.5 TFL, INT vs. Boise State) — The leader of an Ole Miss defense that picked off four passes made eight total tackles and got it started with a bone-jarring hit. He picked off a pass too during a great start to his senior campaign.
- Senquez Golson, Ole Miss (8 tackles, INT vs. Boise State) — This rangy Rebels cornerback was prolific in run support and changed momentum with an interception.
- Alan Turner, Arkansas (10 tackles vs. Auburn) — Roaming from his safety position, Turner led the Razorbacks with 10 tackles.
- A.J. Stamps, Kentucky (8 tackles, INT vs. UT Martin) — You won’t see a more athletic interception than the leaping one-handed grab Stamps made against the Skyhawks. Kentucky’s secondary recorded three picks all of last season and nearly matched that total Saturday.
