Sept. 12, 2011
Coming off a career performance, junior Rob Lohr has been named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week, league officials announced Monday.
Lohr was one of several defensive standouts for Vanderbilt Saturday as the Commodores moved to 2-0 on the season with a come-from-behind 24-21 victory over reigning Big East Conference champion Connecticut.
In the victory, Lohr became the first Commodore defender in more than a decade to post four tackles for loss. Lohr’s four tackles for loss were the most by a ‘Dore defender since cornerback Casey Hayward contributed four such tackles at LSU in 2009. The last player with five tackles for a loss was linebacker Jamie Winborn against No. 6 Florida on Nov. 4, 2000.
One of Lohr’s tackles also resulted in his first quarterback sack of the year.
Lohr becomes the first Vanderbilt defensive lineman selected for the conference’s top weekly award since the league expanded its individual awards three years ago. He also is the first Vanderbilt defensive player to earn SEC weekly honors since defensive back D.J. Moore was recognized after the Commodores’ 31-24 victory over Kentucky on Nov. 15, 2008.
Two other Commodore defensive players, senior defensive back Casey Hayward and defensive end Tim Fugger, were also nominated for the league’s weekly defensive recognition. Hayward produced one of the biggest plays in Vanderbilt’s win, returning a fourth quarter interception 50 yards for a touchdown to knot the score at 21-21. Fugger was dominant from his end position, producing two quarterback sacks among four total tackles.
Sophomore kicker Carey Spear, who sealed the win with a 31-yard field goal in the closing minutes, also was considered for SEC Specialist of the Week honors.
The Commodores move into SEC play this Saturday, hosting Ole Miss in Vanderbilt Stadium, looking for their first three-game win streak since early in the 2008 season that ended with an appearance in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl.
Season and single-game tickets remain for the Ole Miss encounter, which features an 11:20 a.m. kick.
