Sept. 18, 2017
Safety LaDarius Wiley has earned a share of Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors following his superb performance in Vanderbilt’s 14-7 home victory over No. 18 Kansas State last Saturday.
Wiley, a redshirt junior from Los Angeles, Calif., contributed 11 total tackles, intercepted a pass and knocked down two other pass attempts to play a key role in Vanderbilt’s outstanding defensive effort against the ranked Wildcats.
Wiley established a new single-game career high for tackles in the game. It also marked his first career interception.
Wiley becomes the first Commodore to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors since All-American linebacker Zach Cunningham was recognized following Vanderbilt’s impressive 45-34 win over Tennessee in the 2016 regular season finale.
Wiley and the Commodores limited a Kansas State offense that entered the game averaging 55 points and 506 total yards to just 277 total yards and a lone score. Through three games, Vanderbilt features one of the nation’s leading defenses. The unit tops the NCAA in scoring defense (4.3 points per game), total defense (198.3 yards per game) and passing defense (95.3 yards per game).
The win over Kansas State was Vanderbilt’s first home victory over a non-SEC foe ranked in the Associated Press poll since the Commodores defeated No. 20 N.C. State on Nov. 9, 1946.
The Commodores, off to their first 3-0 start since 2011, host No. 1 Alabama on campus this Saturday. Kickoff for the game is 2:30 p.m., with CBS providing national television.