Preston Smith Sets New Record
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. 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. For more information
on the Maroon and White, follow the program on Twitter
at @HailStateFB, like team on Facebook
at Facebook.com/HailStateFootball and join the squad on
Instagram at Instagram.com/HailStateFB. 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
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