NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In what is becoming a Tuesday tradition, Carson-Newman linebacker Temoris Coats (Greenwood, S.C.) has been tabbed for Tennessee Sportswriters Association's state defensive player of the week for a third time in four weeks this season and a fourth time in his career.
A Carson-Newman player has taken home the honor each of the last four weeks. The latest honor comes to Coats following his performance against Catawba. He also brought home defensive player of the week honors from the TSWA following games against Virginia Union in week two and Newberry in week four. Alonzo Houston (Wimauma, Fla.) grabbed the award for C-N following the Eagles' week three win over Newberry.
Coats most recent accolade comes on the back of a record-book altering performance. Coats tallied nine tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a pick and a pass break up in the Eagles' 33-30 overtime win at Catawba. The 5.5 tackles for loss are the third most in program history. Coats follows Darryl Gooden (7.5 TFL v. Howard Payne in 1992) and William Moody (6.0 TFL v. New Haven in 2002) for the most stops behind the line of scrimmage in a single game.
Need to just change it to the TEMO defensive player of the week award. @TemorisCoats #United18 https://t.co/AgNxqPQWXb
— Coach Aaron Hutsell (@CoachAHutsell) October 2, 2018
Coats' 5.5 tackles for loss backed Catawba up 12 yards. He registered 3.5 tackles for loss in the first half against Catawba and his interception in the third quarter came with Catawba ahead, 21-20.
Coats added a pass breakup and made two other tackles for no gain in the contest.
He has 52 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss in five games this season. Coats ranks ninth nationally in tackles for loss. He sits in 25th in total tackles and is second in the league in that regard.
Coats and the rest of the Eagles are back at Burke-Tarr Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. against Limestone. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. for the contest. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at noon with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
