Dashawn Spears earns SEC Defensive Player of the Week

LSU’s sophomore safety Dashawn Spears had two game-changing plays in the win over Florida on Saturday night and on Monday was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, capping a breakout performance.

Spears, a sophomore from Denham Springs, had interceptions in the first and third quarters as the Tigers picked off a total of five Florida passes in the 20-10 victory. Spears’ first quarter interception stopped a Florida drive at the LSU 26-yard line.

He returned his third quarter interception 58 yards for a touchdown, extending No. 3-ranked LSU’s lead to 20-10. Spears added two tackles in the contest as LSU (3-0, 1-0 SEC) held Florida scoreless in the second half in running its winning streak to six straight dating back to last season.

Through three games, LSU’s defense is allowing only 9.0 points and league-best 56.0 rushing yards a game. In 31 possessions, LSU had limited its opponent to only three touchdowns and has allowed only three trips inside the redzone.

The SEC honor is the first of Spears’ career.

2025 LSU Football Honors

at Clemson
QB Garrett Nussmeier – Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week; SEC Offensive Player of the Week
CB Mansoor Delane – Bednarik Award National Player of the Week
C Braelin Moore – SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week

vs. Florida
S Dashawn Spears SEC Defensive Player of the Week

*LSU press release

Full SEC Sept. 15 awards

OFFENSIVE

Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia

• Making his first career road start, Stockton went 23-for-31 for a career-high 304 yards, two touchdowns and no picks while adding 13 carries for 38 yards and a score during Georgia’s 44-41 overtime win over No. 15 Tennessee in Knoxville.
• After the Vols scored a TD in 2:30 on the game’s first possession, Stockton promptly drove the Bulldogs down 75 yards in six plays (2:32) to knot the score at 7-all thanks to his rushing TD.
• He cut the deficit to 21-14 early in the second period on a 36-yard scoring strike to Zachariah Branch.
• Then on 4th-and-6 at the Tennessee 28 with Georgia down 38-30, Stockton delivered a perfect strike to London Humphreys in the corner of the end zone before hitting Branch for a two-point conversion to tie the game and send it to overtime.
• The Bulldogs churned up 502 yards and went 5-for-5 in the Red Zone.

DEFENSIVE

Bray Hubbard, S, Alabama

• Played a key role on an Alabama defense that allowed only one offensive score and just 209 yards of total offense.
• The Tide limited Wisconsin to 117 yards passing and 92 rushing in the game.
• Hubbard picked off two passes in the game for a combined eight return yards.
• Added five total tackles on the day, setting the tone for the defense with each hit he delivered.

Dashawn Spears, S, LSU

• Intercepted two passes, returning the second 58 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter, putting LSU up 20-10 in the win over Florida.
• First interception came in first quarter, stopping a Florida drive at the LSU 26-yard line.
• Added 2 tackles as LSU held Florida scoreless in the second half.
• As a unit, LSU intercepted 5 Florida passes, 3 coming in the second half.
• The interceptions were the first two of his career.
• LSU held Florida to 79 rushing yards.
• In the decisive second half, LSU’s defense didn’t allow Florida to penetrate the 30-yard line.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Peyton Woodring, PK, Georgia

• Drilled all three of his field goals and was 3-for-3 on PATs to help clinch Georgia’s 44-41 overtime win over No. 15 Tennessee in Knoxville
• Cut the deficit to four points before halftime with a 20-yard boot
• Put Georgia up 27-21 near the end of the third period with a 48-yard field goal
• Gave the Bulldogs a 30-28 edge at the 12:17 mark of the fourth quarter on a 24-yard field goal

OFFENSIVE LINE

Jordan White, G, Vanderbilt

• Recorded Vandy’s top overall and run block grades for the third week in a row in win at nationally-ranked South Carolina.
• Helped the Commodores post 22 first downs and average better than five yards per snap in holding the ball for a season-best 35:43.
• Did not allow a sack, or a QB hit or pressure on 30 pass snaps.
• Helped the Dores to their first win in an SEC opener since 2011 and first road victory over an AP Top 25 opponent dating back to the 2007 campaign.
• Led team to first defeat of the Gamecocks since 2008, and its first win in Columbia going back to the previous season.

Diego Pounds, OT, Ole Miss

• Led a potent Ole Miss offense in a hard-fought SEC win over Arkansas.
• Helped amass 475 yards of total offense and protected first-time QB Trinidad Chambliss who threw for 353 yards.
• Directed a Rebel line that allowed just one sack and two penalties.
• Ole Miss converted all seven red zone opportunities with five touchdowns and committed zero turnovers on the day.  

DEFENSIVE LINE

Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M

• Had 7 tackles, 1.0 sack and 1.0 TFL in victory at No. 8 Notre Dame
• Notched a career high in tackles.
• Helped limit the Fighting Irish to just 3.5 yards per carry and just 136 yards rushing.