Sept. 19, 2011
Birmingham, Ala. – For the second straight week the Commodores captured a Southeastern Conference award, this time picking up two accolades from the league with Trey Wilson earning Defensive Player of the Week and Wesley Johnson receiving Offensive Lineman of the Week honors.
Wilson intercepted two passes in Vanderbilt’s 30-7 win over Ole Miss that improved the ‘Dores to 3-0 on the year. Wilson’s first interception in the second quarter was returned 52 yards for a touchdown and his second pick of the quarter was returned 30 yards. With his second pick-six of the year he became just the second Commodore to ever have two interceptions returned for touchdowns in a season joining Jay Chesley, who turned the trick in 1974. Wilson leads the SEC and is tied for second nationally with three interceptions. His two picks Saturday were part of the Commodores’ five total interceptions on the day, the most since 2007. 
Vanderbilt leads the nation with 10 interceptions in the team’s first three games after picking off nine passes all of last season. For the first time in school history the Commodores have registered an interception returned for a touchdown in three straight games. The only other NCAA team that can match the Commodores’ defensive TD total is Louisiana-Lafayette with four.
A tackle last season, Wesley Johnson’s transition to center has been successful for Vanderbilt. Johnson helped lead the offense to a season-best 281 yards rushing, the most against a SEC opponent since 1994 at Kentucky. The total is the fifth-highest in the last 30 years for Vandy at home surpassed by only four games from the 1990-92 era. The weekly league honor is the second of Johnson’s young career. This marks the second time in two years that Johnson has been recognized by the league office. He was named the top offensive lineman last year after Vanderbilt’s win at Ole Miss. Johnson is the only active Commodore to be a two-time winner of the award.
It also marks the second consecutive week that a Vanderbilt student-athlete earned league recognition. Rob Lohr, a junior defensive tackle, received the top defensive lineman award last week after Vanderbilt’s 24-21 win over Connecticut.
