Posted: Sep 05, 2023
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman sophomore linebacker Jake Cottle has been named the Tennessee State Defensive Player of the Week, the Tennessee Sportswriters' Association announced Tuesday afternoon.
Cottle led the Eagles' defense with eight tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pass break up in C-N's 35-3 beatdown of Virginia-Lynchburg Thursday.
Every stat was a new career high for Cottle.
This marks a third straight week where the Eagles have had a player recognized by the TSWA. Receiver Braxton Westfield and quarterback Ivan Corbin picked up offensive player of the week honors against Catawba and UVA Wise, respectively, to close the 2022 season.
Cottle's accolade is the first of his career. He becomes the first Eagle recognized for their defensive efforts since Frank Lee garnered a state defensive player of the week award on Oct. 17, 2022.
The Alabama-native's defensive effort helped key a sensational defensive performance for C-N against the Dragons.
C-N limited the Dragons to 75 yards of total offense (third fewest all-time), 1.9 yards per play (fourth fewest all-time) and just six rushing yards (ninth fewest all-time). The Dragons only had one first down after halftime and the 40 plays they ran are the fewest ever by a C-N opponent.
As a result, Carson-Newman enters the contest with ETSU third nationally in first downs defense (5), third in total defense (75), fourth in rush defense (6), sixth in scoring defense (3) and eighth in pass defense (69).
Cottle and the rest of the Eagles will be in action against the Bucs Saturday at 5:30 p.m. from Greene Stadium. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 4:30 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM), Knoxville and Mountain Talk 106.3 (WPFT-FM), Sevierville and online at cneagles.com/live.
