BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee redshirt junior outside linebacker Darrell Taylor has been named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday.
This is the fourth time this season that a Vol has been honored by the SEC as freshman defensive back Bryce Thompson, redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and senior defensive end Kyle Phillips have all earned recognition in 2018.
The last time a Tennessee player earned Defensive Player of the Week accolades was in 2016. VFL and current Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett received the honor on Oct. 3, 2016 and Nov. 21, 2016 after UT’s 38-28 victory over No. 19-ranked Florida and a 63-37 rout of Missouri.
Taylor was also named the Walter Camp National FBS Defensive Player of the Week on Sunday.
The Waverly, Virginia, native had an outstanding four-sack performance to lead Tennessee past No. 11 Kentucky, 24-7, on Saturday. With the outing, he became just the third player in UT history to record four sacks in a game, joining Reggie White (1983 vs. Citadel) and Corey Miller (2013 at Kentucky).
Taylor had seven tackles to go along with his four sacks and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as the Vols held the Wildcats to their lowest point total of the season and second-lowest outputs in rushing (77) and total yards (262).
He is the sixth Tennessee player to earn National Player of the Week honors since 2004, and the first since quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Nov. 6, 2016.
Taylor’s seven sacks on the season are tied for sixth in the SEC and his three forced fumbles are tied for third in the league while his two fumbles recovered rank first in the SEC and 16th in the nation.
Taylor Tabbed as SEC Defensive Player of the Week
