Oct. 6, 2008
Nashville, Tenn. – Two Commodore standouts in Vanderbilt’s 14-13 victory over nationally ranked Auburn earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors, league officials announced today.
Patrick Benoist, a linebacker from Southlake (Texas) Carroll H.S., was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Brett Upson, a punter from Spalding H.S., in Griffin, Ga., received the SEC Specialist of the Week.
Benoist and Upson are just two of several Vanderbilt players who had stellar games as the Commodores, playing for the first time as a nationally ranked team in 24 years, defeated No. 13 Auburn before a loud, sellout crowd and an ESPN national audience. The game capped two wild days on the Nashville campus, as ESPN also aired its popular “College Football GameDay Built by The Home Depot” show from the Commons at Vanderbilt.
The Commodores, 5-0 overall for the first time since 1943 and 3-0 in SEC play for the first time since 1950, moved up to No. 13 in the Associated Press poll and No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll and Harris Interactive Poll.
Benoist contributed a team-high 13 tackles, including two tackles for loss, in the victory. He also added a quarterback sack and pass breakup. Benoist’s biggest contribution might have come early in the game, as he and safety Ryan Hamilton stopped Auburn tailback Ben Tate at the Vanderbilt 1-yard line to end an early Tiger threat.
Benoist ranks as the Commodore leader with 22 solo tackles, 50 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. He ranks second in the SEC with total tackles.
Upson continued his superb punting for the Commodores. His last effort, a 55-yarder downed at the Auburn 3-yard line with 2:16 left in the game, virtually sealed the Vanderbilt victory.
Upson has been extremely effective pinning opponents deep in their own territory. Four of his eight punts against Auburn were downed inside the Tiger 20-yard line.
Upson’s net punting average of 37.1 is a career best, and ranks among the SEC leaders. Opponents are averaging just 3.0 yards on nine total returns.
