A pair of Tennessee football players earned SEC Weekly Honors for their performances in the Vols’ 24-17 win over Alabama on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Running Dylan Sampson is the SEC Offensive Player of the Week while center Cooper Mays is the co-SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Sampson turned in another stout performance in the rivalry game, rushing for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. After a rocky first half, Sampson rushed for 104 yards in the second half including both of his scores.
The junior running back has been not only one of the best running backs in the SEC but one of the best running backs in the country. Sampson’s totaled 838 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground through seven games this season and is just one touchdown behind Gene McEver for the program single-season rushing touchdown record.
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Despite his great start to the season including six games rushing for over 100 yards, this is the first time that Sampson has earned an SEC weekly honor this season.
Mays split offensive lineman of the week honors with LSU offensive tackle Emery Jones who helped the Tigers cruise to a a 34-10 win over Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Mays was Tennessee’s highest graded offensive lineman in the win over Alabama according to PFF. The preseason All-American has had a strong super senior season despite the Vols’ offensive line issues around him.
It’s the second time that Mays has earned the weekly SEC honor this season with the first coming following Tennessee’s win over NC State early in the season.
Tennessee football is 6-1 (3-1 SEC) and is off this week for its final open date of the season before hosting Kentucky at Neyland Stadium on the first Saturday in November. The Vols are looking to make the expanded College Football Playoff this season and now have a little bit of room for error following the victory over Alabama.
