Vols junior corner Bryce Thompson has been named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, the SEC announced Monday at noon.
Thompson is coming off of a stellar performance that included a pick-six in the second quarter of Tennessee’s 42-17 win over Vanderbilt. He intercepted the pass with one-hand and returned it 18-yards to give the Vols a 14-10 lead. It ignited 28 unanswered points by UT.
It was the first pick-six of Thompson’s career and the 10th turnover he has forced. For his career, he has eight interceptions and two forced fumbles. It was his second interception of the season and the third defensive touchdown by the Vols this year.
Thompson added two tackles and was the highest graded defensive player of the game with a 91.2 coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus.
The Irmo, South Carolina native has only allowed one touchdown through nine games this season. Thompson has tallied 33 tackles, 26 solo tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and two pass breakups.
Thompson started all 10 games he appeared in as a sophomore last season after sitting out the first three games of the season. He proved to be UT’s top cornerback as he did not allow a touchdown in 325 coverage snaps according to Pro Football Focus. Thompson tied the school record with three first-half interceptions against UAB in November and finished the year with 32 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups, three picks and one hurry.
As a freshman in 2018, Thompson finished with the highest grade of any true freshman cornerback in the nation, according to PFF. He played in all 12 games, making 10 starts and leading Tennessee with three interceptions and seven pass breakups. His three INTs ranked tied for third in the SEC and first among league freshmen, while his 10 passes defended ranked tied for ninth and first among newcomers.
Thompson signed with the Vols as a four-star prospect out of Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, South Carolina.
