Auburn Football: Smoke Monday and Nick Brahms named SEC Players of the Week

Auburn Football had two Tigers honored for their performances this past Saturday for the SEC Players of the Week: OL Nick Brahms and DB Smoke Monday.

This past Saturday’s victory against the Tennessee Volunteers was the most impressive triumph of the season for Auburn Football. Luckily, the SEC voting panel took notice when considering their SEC Players of the Week.

The Tigers had two players named as top performers, with starting center Nick Brahms and defensive back Smoke Monday both being honored by the SEC. Brahms impact was illustrated over the long-term grind of the game:

"OFFENSIVE LINENick Brahms, OL, Auburn-Graded out at 85 percent with a team season-best nine extra effort plays.-Anchored and led an offensive line that lost two starters during the game.-Part of Auburn offense that gained 385 yards and had three sustained scoring drives of 12 or more plays (and all 5 or more minutes in duration)."

Brahms kept an offensive line that saw Alec Jackson and Brodarius Hamm go down with injuries against the Vols afloat, facilitating a pair of D.J. Williams touchdown runs en route to a spread-covering victory.

Monday had a more direct impact on the game via his big-play score that put Auburn up at the spread with 2:21 left in the third quarter:

"DEFENSESmoke Monday, DB, Auburn-100-yard interception return with 2:21 left in the third quarter gave Auburn a 20-10 lead en route to a 30-17 victory.-Monday also registered four tackles, a PBU and a QB hurry.-The 100-yard interception return for touchdown was the third in school history.-Was third interception of Monday’s career."

It is going to be difficult replicating those efforts against Alabama this coming Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide’s defense ranks third in the SEC and hasn’t allowed a touchdown in nine quarters.

Regardless of what happens this coming week, the War Eagle is proud of this Plainsmen pair for shining in Week 13.