MSU’s Smith Named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for Third Straight Week

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Mississippi State senior Preston Smith became the first player in Southeastern Conference history to be named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for three-straight weeks, league officials announced Monday.

(Spruce Derden/US Presswire)

Smith picked up the nod again after tying a career high with two sacks this past Saturday in State’s 35-3 victory at South Alabama. The defensive end also blocked a field goal and forced a fumble.

On the season, Smith has recorded nine tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, two sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a forced fumble. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound lineman is tied for the FBS lead with two blocked kicks, which is more than 113 of the 125 FBS programs this season.

Smith returns to action this Saturday as the 3-0 Bulldogs travel to Baton Rouge, La. to take on No. 8 LSU inside Tiger Stadium. The 6 p.m. C.T. kickoff will be televised live on ESPN.

MSU’s SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week
2005 – Willie Evans (Sept. 17)
2008 – Jessie Bowman (Sept. 15)
2009 – Pernell McPhee (Sept. 21, Nov. 28)
2011 – Fletcher Cox (Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Oct. 31, Nov. 28)
2014 – Preston Smith (Sept. 1, Sept. 8, Sept. 15)

SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week In Two-Plus Consecutive Weeks
2014 – Preston Smith (Sept. 1, 8 and 15)
2013 – Michael Sam*, Missouri
2011 – Fletcher Cox^, Mississippi State* (Oct. 8 and 15)
2010 – Drake Nevis*, LSU (Sept. 11 and 18)
Nick Fairley^, Auburn (Oct. 16 and 23)
2006 – Glenn Dorsey*^, LSU (Sept. 11 and 18)

* Earned All-America honors at the end of the season

^ Eventual first-round pick in NFL Draft