NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For the second time in three weeks and the third time in six, Carson-Newman linebacker Temoris Coats (Greenwood, S.C.) has been named the Tennessee Sportswriters Association's state defensive player of the week, the organization announced Tuesday morning.

Coats' win gives the Eagles' the last three recipients of the award. Coats won it two weeks ago for his 11-tackle performance in a 33-29 win at Virginia Union.  Alonzo Houston (Wimauma, Fla.) followed that up with a nine-tackle, two-TFL, one-INT performance in the Eagles' win over Wingate. 

Coats also won the honor in week 10 last year for his efforts in a victory over Lenoir-Rhyne.  

The senior linebacker picks up honors this week for his career-high, 13-tackle effort in the Eagles' loss at Newberry. The mark was Coats' third career 10-tackle effort. Coats also tallied a tackle for loss against the Wolves. He helped the Eagles limit Newberry to 299 yards of total offense and one offensive touchdown.  

Coats has 43 tackles on the season.  He is third in the SAC in tackles per game and second in overall stops.  

The senior is the first Eagle to be recognized by the TSWA twice in one season, let alone three times in a career.  

The Eagles' three TSWA defensive player of the week recognitions matches the three that Carson-Newman won in 2015.  That year, Justin Long, Xavier McFadden and Jason Williams were all touted in a four-week span toward the end of the regular season. 

Coats and the rest of the Eagles will take the field again Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Salisbury, N.C.  Pregame coverage for the matchup with the Catawba College Catawba Indians gets underway at 12:30 with the AEC Tailgate Show on the Eagle Sports Network on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.