From SECsports.com
The Southeastern Conference Football Players of the Week: Sept. 16
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe
Jalen Milroe delivered a stellar performance in Alabama’s 42-10 victory at Wisconsin, accounting for five total touchdowns. Milroe completed 12 of 17 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns, including passes of 31, 26, and 37 yards for his scores through the air. In addition to his passing prowess, he was effective on the ground, rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. His rushing touchdowns came from 3 and 10 yards out, and he contributed three key first downs with his legs, showcasing his dual-threat ability and leading the Tide to a commanding win.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart
Jaxson Dart was instrumental in Ole Miss’s road win over Wake Forest, amassing 413 total yards and three touchdowns. Dart completed 26 of 34 passes for 377 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 36 yards and an additional score. This marked his 10th game with over 300 passing yards in an Ole Miss uniform, tying him with Eli Manning for the fifth-most in school history. Dart passed Chad Kelly for fifth place in career touchdown passes at Ole Miss with 51. His streak of 178 consecutive passes without an interception, the fourth-longest in program history, was snapped during the game, highlighting his impressive accuracy and decision-making.
LSU defensive end Bradyn Swinson
Bradyn Swinson played a pivotal role in LSU’s 36-33 comeback victory over South Carolina, recording five tackles, including three sacks for a total loss of 23 yards. His two sacks in the fourth quarter were game-changing; the first forced a fumble recovered by LSU, and the second, occurring on South Carolina’s final drive with just 48 seconds left, resulted in a seven-yard loss and forced the Gamecocks to burn a timeout. Swinson’s three sacks were a career high, contributing significantly to an LSU defense that forced three turnovers and helped the Tigers overcome a 17-0 first-half deficit.
Georgia linebacker Raylen Wilson
Raylen Wilson was a key defensive anchor in Georgia’s 13-12 road win over Kentucky, finishing with five tackles, including a sack that resulted in a 28-yard loss and a forced fumble. His first tackle stopped a play for no gain, and his sack/forced fumble in Georgia territory led to a field goal that tied the game at 3-3. Wilson’s tackles included another stop that limited the opponent to just a one-yard gain. His solid performance was critical in helping Georgia’s defense keep its third straight opponent from scoring a touchdown.
Missouri kicker Blake Craig
Blake Craig had an exceptional game for Missouri, going 4-for-4 on field goals with kicks of 38, 38, 56, and 31 yards, and converting one PAT attempt for a career-high total of 13 points in the game. His 56-yard field goal right before halftime gave Missouri a 17-14 lead, marking the longest field goal for the Tigers since Harrison Mevis hit a 61-yarder in 2023. Craig also handled six kickoffs, totaling 390 yards for an average of 65.0 yards per kickoff. Nationally, he is tied for first in field goals per game (2.67) and ranks fifth in total points scored (36) and sixth in scoring (12.0 points per game).
Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III
Trey Zuhn III anchored the left tackle position for Texas A&M in a dominant offensive display, where the Aggies rushed for 310 yards and did not allow a quarterback sack. Zuhn played every snap on offense, contributing to a second consecutive game with over 300 rushing yards. The offensive line led a 99-yard, 15-play scoring drive late in the second quarter, capped by a 1-yard touchdown rush by quarterback Marcel Reed. Additionally, they orchestrated a 92-yard, nine-play scoring drive—the first time an Aggie offense has achieved two 90-yard scoring drives since facing Texas in 2007. The offense recorded 10 rushes of 10 yards or more and scored on its first five possessions, only punting once the entire game.
Ole Miss defensive lineman Jared Ivey
Jared Ivey led another strong performance by the Ole Miss defense in their 40-6 road win over Wake Forest, recording a game-high 2.0 sacks and finishing second on the team with six total tackles. He also added a quarterback pressure. The Rebels defense was dominant, limiting Wake Forest to just two field goals and no touchdowns for the third straight game—the first time since 1961 Ole Miss has achieved this feat. The defense also held Wake Forest to just 46 rushing yards, including only five in the first half, and has allowed a total of just 100 rushing yards through the first three games of the season.
Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins played a significant role in Georgia’s 13-12 road victory over Kentucky, starting his second consecutive game and recording three tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack. His efforts helped Georgia limit Kentucky to just 114 passing yards on 14 completions. Ingram-Dawkins was a key part of a defensive line that has not allowed any points in the first three games, continuing to demonstrate Georgia’s defensive dominance early in the season.
Texas freshman quarterback Arch Manning
Arch Manning stepped up in Texas’s 56-7 win over UTSA after an injury to Quinn Ewers, completing 9-of-12 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns, and rushing for a 67-yard touchdown. His four touchdown passes, tied for 10th all-time on UT’s single-game list, included a 75-yard strike to Ryan Wingo—the seventh-longest by a UT freshman. Manning’s 67-yard rushing TD was the longest by a UT quarterback since Vince Young’s 80-yard run in 2005. Manning is the fifth SEC freshman QB in the last 15 years to have a 65+ yard touchdown run. He averaged 39.3 yards per passing TD and became the first UT quarterback since Casey Thompson in 2021 to account for five or more touchdowns in a game.
Texas A&M freshman quarterback Marcel Reed
Marcel Reed made his first start at quarterback for Texas A&M, leading the Aggies to a 33-20 win over Florida. Reed completed 11 of 17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He also added 83 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Reed showcased his dual-threat capabilities, scrambling for a 31-yard gain on 2nd-and-21 to convert a first down, and later connecting with Moose Muhammad on a 20-yard pass on 3rd-and-10. Reed guided the Aggie offense to scores on their first five possessions before a single punt, demonstrating poise and efficiency in his debut.
