Oct. 22, 2007
Birmingham, Ala. – Two Vanderbilt sophomore football players – cornerback D.J. Moore and punter Brett Upson – were recipients of Southeastern Conference weekly individual honors Monday for their contributions to the Commodores’ 17-6 victory over No. 6 ranked South Carolina Saturday in Columbia, S.C.
Moore, from Broome H.S., in Spartanburg, S.C., was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception, eight-tackle performance against the Gamecocks. On Sunday, Moore became the first Commodore ever to garner Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Upson, a product of Spalding H.S., in Griffin, Ga., received the SEC’s Specialist of the Week award after repeatedly giving South Carolina poor field possession with his punts.
It also marks the second time in team history that two Commodores have been recognized by the SEC during the same week. The first came in 2005 when senior quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Earl Bennett were honored as offensive player of the week and freshman of the week following Vanderbilt’s 28-24 win at Tennessee.
“I’m very happy for both Brett and DJ,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Bobby Johnson said Monday. “We received great effort and performances from our entire team against South Carolina, but their individual contributions really helped our winning cause. Everybody knows how well about DJ did because he was making plays all over the field. But Brett’s ability to pin South Carolina deep in their own territory was just as crucial to our success. Both are very deserving recipients.”
Moore was a three-way player against the Gamecocks, seeing action as a running back/receiver on offense, kick return on special teams, and cornerback on defense. He posted eight solo tackles and two critical interceptions – one that gave Vanderbilt the ball for its first scoring drive and another that ended South Carolina’s deepest drive. He also recorded a defensed pass as a cornerback. On special teams, he was just was solid, returning three kicks for 104 yards. His first return of 40 yards gave Vanderbilt excellent field position that it maintained through the first quarter.
Moore leads the SEC with five interceptions and ranks among the conference leaders in several other defensive statistical categories.
Moore’s performance was key to a Commodore defensive effort that held an SEC opponent without a touchdown for the first time in 15 years. The defense limited South Carolina to 26 net rushing yards and just one conversion in 12 third-down attempts.
Upson averaged 40.1 yards, but six of his eight punts were downed inside the South Carolina 20-yard line. Because of Upson, the Gamecocks began three drives inside their 10-yard line, including starting at the 2-yard line and 3-yard line. The Gamecocks struggled throughout the game with field possession, starting an average drive on their own 22-yard line.
Upson leads the SEC in percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, succeeding on 42.9% of his 35 attempts.
Two other Commodores, Bennett and senior offensive tackle Chris Williams, have been recognized earlier this season by the SEC. Bennett was the league’s offensive player of the week for his record-breaking performance in Week 1 against Richmond and Williams was named the conference’s top offensive lineman after Vanderbilt’s victory over Ole Miss.