Last week, three different Vols earned SEC Player of the Week honors. This week, Tennessee kept their streak alive of getting at least one player in the weekly awards list.
Sophomore cornerback Bryce Thompson was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following his career day on Saturday. Thompson tied a school record for the most interceptions in a single game when he picked off three passes against UAB in the Vols’ 30-7 win. All three of Thompson’s interceptions came in the first half, and UT’s offense was able to get points off those turnovers and take an early lead because of them.
Thompson became the first Vol since Deon Grant in 1999 to intercept three passes in a single game, and he doubled his career interception total in just the one game.
The picks weren’t all that Thompson did in the game, though. The sophomore totaled three tackles and picked up a quarterback hurry as well.
Thompson began the season on the bench as he served a suspension for an off-field incident on UT’s campus. The Irmo, South Carolina native was suspended the week before the season began after he was charged with domestic assault. But those charges were eventually dropped, and Thompson was reinstated back to the team to practice before the official ruling came about. Thompson made his 2019 season debut in Tennessee’s road contest against Florida.
In six games this season, Thompson has totaled 22 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, two pass breakups, a quarterback hurry, and the three interceptions he snagged on Saturday.
Last week, Tennessee linebacker Daniel Bituli was named the co-SEC Defensive Player of the Week, so the Vols have now had the SEC Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks.
Thompson and the Vols will look to build off Saturday’s performance this upcoming weekend when they travel to Lexington, Kentucky to take on the Kentucky Wildcats. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM Eastern, and the game will be televised on SEC Network.
