Blackmon receives league honor

Auburn sophomore linebacker Tray Blackmon has been named the Southeastern Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Blackmon was honored following Auburn's 9-7 victory at Arkansas Saturday.

Blackmon led the Auburn defense with a career-high nine tackles, including six solo. He was instrumental in helping the Auburn defense hold Arkansas to just 193 yards of total offense, including 67 on the ground. The Razorbacks entered the game ranked second nationally in rushing offense (338.4 yards per game), but were held 271 yards below their season average. Arkansas was 10th nationally in total offense at 507.6 yards per game, but were held 314 yards below that total.

In addition, Blackmon spearheaded the effort to stop the nation's top running duo. Arkansas' Darren McFadden was ranked third nationally averaging 155.8 yards rushing per game, but was held to just 43 by Auburn, which was his lowest rushing total since Nov. 12, 2005. Felix Jones averaged 126.2 yards per game which ranked 10th nationally, but had just 42 yards against Auburn. Their combined total of 85 yards was their lowest combined output since Nov. 25, 2005.

Blackmon became the sixth Auburn player to be recognized with an SEC weekly award this season, and was the Tigers' second Defensive Player of the Week. Jerraud Powers was named Defensive Player of the Week following Auburn's Sept. 29 victory at Florida.

Other Auburn players to be recognized this season include Tyronne Green, who was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after Auburn's Oct. 6 win against Vanderbilt, Wes Byrum, who was named Special Teams Player of the Week following the win at Florida, Patrick Tatum, who was named Special Teams Player of the Week following Auburn's Sept. 22 win against New Mexico State, and Quentin Groves, who was honored as the Defensive Lineman of the Week following Auburn's season-opening victory over Kansas State.

No. 18 Auburn returns to action Saturday at No. 5 LSU. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally by ESPN.