NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Carson-Newman senior linebacker Temoris Coats has been named the Tennessee Sportswriters Association State Defensive Player of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
Coats nabs the honor for the second time in four weeks. He was presented the same plaudit following the Eagles' 42-28 win over Lenoir-Rhyne last season. That day against the Bears he had nine tackles and two stops for a loss.
He upped the ante on that in the Eagles' 33-29 win over Virginia Union Saturday. Coats turned in his second career double-digit tackle effort with a career-best 11 stops.
He also matched his career high for tackles for loss with 2.0. Four of Coats' tackles were solo stops.
Coats helped Carson-Newman hold Virginia Union's Tabyus Taylor, who entered the game as the nation's seventh-leading rusher, under 100 yards rushing.
Coats and the rest of the Eagles will be in action Saturday at Burke-Tarr Stadium at 7 p.m. against Wingate. Both teams are receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll. Coverage of the game will be available on the Eagle Sports Network on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
