NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt safety CJ Taylor has been named the Thorpe Award Player of the Week. Taylor recorded a team-high seven tackles in Vandy’s win over Auburn.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is presented annually to the nation’s top defensive back and named for the legendary multi-sport athlete who played defensive back, running back, punter and kicker during his collegiate career with the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Oklahoma.
Taylor’s seven tackles were one shy of a career best as he helped lead the Dores to their first-ever victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He also forced a fumble to end Auburn’s final drive in the closing minutes.
Taylor and the Vandy defense held Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter to just 50 yards on the day, nearly 70 below his season average and 228 yards lower than his previous outing at Kentucky.
The seven points scored by the Tigers were the fewest by a Power 4 Vanderbilt opponent since 2017 and fewest by an SEC foe since 2015.
The win gave Vanderbilt victories over Auburn and Alabama in the same season for the first time since 1955.
Taylor and the 24th-ranked Commodores return to action Saturday when South Carolina visits FirstBank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network and 94.9 The Fan.
