BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After Tennessee picked up a top 15 victory on the road against Oklahoma this past weekend, the Southeastern Conference office recognized three Vols with weekly awards.
Redshirt freshman placekicker Max Gilbert was tabbed the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Junior edge rusher Joshua Josephs was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava earned SEC Freshman of the Week accolades for the third time this season.
Tennessee’s three SEC weekly honorees are its most in a single week since having three players recognized after the win over No. 3/1 Alabama on Oct. 15, 2022. Additionally, Iamaleava’s three SEC Freshman of the Week awards this season ties the school record set by Tyler Bray — who won it three times in a four-week span during the 2010 campaign.
Gilbert earns SEC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition for the first time in his career after making 3-of-3 fields goals and drilling both of his PATs in Norman, helping the Vols secure the 25-15 victory. The Memphis native hit field goals of 27, 41 and 32 yards and accounted for all six of the Vols’ points in the second half to finish off the win. His 10 field goals and 24 extra points this season both rank fourth in the FBS, and his 54 points scored are tied for second in the nation.
Josephs was a disruptive force on a dominant Tennessee defensive line Saturday night, posting three tackles, a tackle for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in one of the most memorable defensive efforts in school history. The win was Tennessee’s first over an AP Top 15 team on the road since 2006, and Josephs delivered arguably the biggest play of the game with a forced fumble and recovery in the red zone. He was the highest graded defensive player in the game, according to Pro Football Focus, with a mark of 94.4 and part of a defensive unit that limited the Sooners to a season-low 36 yards rushing.
Iamaleava complemented the elite defensive display with a solid performance in his first career SEC start, completing 13-of-21 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown through the air and adding 15 yards on the ground. He fired a career-long 66-yard touchdown pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr. in the first quarter and connected with Bru McCoy on a pair of spectacular throws for 38 and 42 yards in the win.
Tennessee has earned six SEC Weekly honors this season and 35 during the Josh Heupel era (2021-present) — including six Freshman of the Week accolades, seven Defensive Lineman of the Week awards and five Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
McCoy named Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week
OKLAHOMA CITY — Coming off a dominant defensive performance in Tennessee’s victory over No. 15 Oklahoma this past weekend, sophomore defensive back Jermod McCoy has been named the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week.
McCoy has proved to be one of the top cornerbacks in the nation through four weeks, and he did it again in a 25-15 Tennessee win at No. 15/13 Oklahoma. McCoy registered three tackles, one pass breakup and one interception that he returned 17 yards.
With Oklahoma driving, McCoy’s pick put the ball back into OU territory, and the Vols scored on the ensuing drive.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors.
Heupel earns national coach of week honor
HOUSTON — After leading fifth-ranked Tennessee to a 4-0 start for the second time in three seasons, head coach Josh Heupel has been named the Bear Bryant Awards Coach of the Week following the Volunteers’ 25-15 victory at then-No. 15 Oklahoma.
Heupel defeated his alma mater for his 10th ranked win at Tennessee, while improving to 31-12 overall (.721) in his four seasons on Rocky Top. He’s been victorious in 26 of his last 33 games. The Vols are one of two teams in the nation with two wins versus opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of game.
Heupel, a two-time National Coach of the Year finalist, owns a 59-20 (.747) record in now his seventh season as a head coach.
The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, presents the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, to honor Coach Bryant’s legacy and to raise awareness and critical funds for their mission. The coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement.
Pioneers sixth at King Invitational
BRISTOL — The Tusculum University women’s golf team finished sixth at the 2024 King University Invitational. The two-day, 36-hole tournament was held at the Golf Club of Bristol.
The Pioneers posted a two-day score of 629 including Tuesday’s final round 314 which included a pair of weather delays.
Junior Reagan Padilla led the Pioneers with her tournament tally of (75-77) 152 to finish in sole possession of eighth place. For Padilla, it is her 10th career top 10 finish which ties her for the ninth-most ever by a Pioneer.
Union University led the nine-team event wire-to-wire finishing with 617 for a two-shot victory over runner-up Converse (619). Emory & Henry was third with 620, followed by Barton (626), Belmont Abbey (627), Tusculum (629), King (648), Young Harris (653) and UVA Wise (679).
Barton’s Terra Schmitt was the tournament medalist as she posted a five-shot win with her two-under par 140 including a final round 68 (-3).
Tusculum freshman Maylei Hildenbrand was the low Pioneer of the day with her final round 74 to finish 11th with a tournament score of 156. Lindsay Self placed 25th with (76-86) 162, Annabelle Mozingo was 28th with (84-81) 165 and Delfin Filiz carded an 11-shot improvement from Monday with her 82 to place 45th with 175.
TU returns to action next week (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) as they compete at the Upstate Intercollegiate in Greer, South Carolina.
Delmotte, McLarty named Zaxby’s Athletes of the Week
GREENEVILLE — Tusculum men’s soccer goalkeeper Noe Delmotte and women’s volleyball outside hitter Addison McLarty have been named the Zaxby’s Athletes of the Week.
Delmotte made one save to earn his first career shutout as the Pioneers played to a 0-0 draw with Newberry on Sunday. The lone save for the freshman from Bondues, France, came in the 18th minute when he stopped a dangerous chance from close range by the Wolves.
In three appearances this season, including two starts, Delmotte has a 0.87 goals against average and a .667 save percentage across 207 minutes, 2 seconds of playing time.
McLarty averaged 4.43 kills and 1.57 digs per set as the Pioneers opened South Atlantic Conference play with wins over Coker (3-1) and Emory & Henry (3-0) last week. McLarty had 11 kills in Tuesday’s win over Coker, then recorded a team season-high 20 kills against Emory & Henry. Her 20 kills are tied for the third-most in a three-set match in program history.
The Acworth, Georgia, freshman is ninth in the SAC in kills per set (2.90) and leads the Pioneers in kills (90) while ranking fourth on the squad with 13 blocks.
The Tusculum University Athlete of the Week Award is sponsored by Zaxby’s, located at 3280 Andrew Johnson Highway in Greeneville. The Zaxby’s Athlete of the Week Award honors one male and one female athlete each week from an in-season sport.
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