NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After notching double-digit tackles for a second straight game, Carson-Newman safety Darius Williams (St. Petersburg, Fla.) has been presented with the Tennessee Sportswriters Association's State Defensive Player of the Week award.

This is Williams first career player of the week plaudit of any kind. He becomes the second Eagle to earn TSWA Defensive Player of the Week honors this season after Rondrow Peebles 12 tackle, 3.5 tackle for loss performance against West Florida on opening night garnered him the honor.  

Williams collected a career-high 13 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and an interception in Carson-Newman's 42-7 win against UVA-Wise. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native collected seven solo stops and was part of a unit that allowed just 195 total yards in the contest.

He returned an interception 79 yards to the Wise seven-yard line early in the second quarter, setting up the second touchdown of the game for the Eagles, a go-ahead score that gave C-N a 14-7 lead. That interception return is the second longest in NCAA Division II this year. It's the seventh longest interception return in school history, and the longest to not go for a touchdown. 

Williams leads the team with 33 tackles and has 4.5 tackles for loss with one sack this season.  He ranks 16th nationally and leads the SAC with 11.0 tackles per game.  

Williams and the rest of the Eagles are in action Saturday against UNC Pembroke.  Kickoff with the Braves is set for 1 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at noon with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), The Mountain 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.