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The SEC league office named its players of the week Monday, highlighted by a familiar and dangerous running back the Gamecocks will have to contend with later this season.
OFFENSE: RB Nick Chubb, Georgia, and QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn: Chubb rushed for 109 yards on 16 carries in the Bulldogs’ destruction of Tennessee, while Stidham led the Tigers with a 13-of-16 passing performance for 264 yards and two touchdowns in a big win against Mississippi State. Both offenses are absolutely rolling right now.
DEFENSE: DB Levi Wallace, Alabama: Speaking of destruction, Wallace notched two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown in the Crimson Tide’s 66-3 public execution of Ole Miss. Gonna go ahead and say it for third or fourth time this year: Thank god the Gamecocks do not have to deal with this.
SPECIAL TEAMS: DE Josh Paschal, Kentucky: Paschal came up with a crucial blocked punt to set up the Wildcats’ game-winning touchdown against Eastern Michigan. Yeah, there’s been a whole lot of choking on cupcakes in the SEC East this year.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: RB Malik Davis, Florida, and DL Nick Coe, Auburn: Davis rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries to key the Gators in their win against Vanderbilt. Coe had six tackles, half a tackle for loss, and four quarterback pressures.
KEEP AN EYE ON ‘EM
QB Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt: Shurmur bounced back from a miserable showing against Alabama, turning in an 18-of-40 passing performance for 264 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in Vandy’s loss to Florida. The Gators had to work for this one, so the Commodores still appear to be a concerning tough out.
QB Jake Fromm, Georgia: The Bulldogs are going to have an interesting decision to make, now that former starter Jacob Eason has returned from his injury. Fromm didn’t have eye-popping stats — he was 7-of-15 for just 84 yards and a touchdown, though he ran for two more scores — but it’s obvious he’s in command of the Georgia offense.
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QB Austin Allen, Arkansas: As the Gamecocks are hosting the Razorbacks this week, it’s worth checking in on Allen, who was viewed as one of the SEC’s better quarterbacks before the season started but has struggled. He enjoyed a confidence-boosting performance against New Mexico State, going 19-of-26 for 264 yards and three touchdowns.