Craig Stevens Named SEC Defensive Player Of The Week - AuburnTigers.com

Craig Stevens Named SEC Defensive Player Of The Week Stevens has 11 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown.

Craig Stevens

Sept. 21, 2009

AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn junior linebacker Craig Stevens has been named the Southeastern Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Stevens was honored following Auburn's 41-30 victory over West Virginia Saturday.

Stevens had a career-high 11 tackles during the Tigers' win over the Mountaineers, and helped seal the win with one of the game's biggest plays. With Auburn clinging to a 34-30 lead and 3:41 left, Stevens intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to provide the final margin of victory. Both the interception and the touchdown were the first of his career.

Stevens was part of an Auburn defense that forced six turnovers during the game, including five interceptions, its most in a game since 2004. Auburn converted those turnovers into 24 points.

Stevens is currently second on the team with 26 tackles (18 solo, eight assists), including 3.5 for losses. He ranks tied for sixth in the SEC in tackles and tied for ninth in tackles for loss.

The award marked the third straight week that an Auburn player has been honored with an SEC weekly award. Onterio McCalebb was named the league's Freshman of the Week following the season-opening victory over Louisiana Tech, and Antonio Coleman was the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after Auburn's win against Mississippi State in the SEC opener.

Auburn (3-0, 1-0 SEC) returns to action Saturday when the Tigers host Ball State (0-3). The game kicks off at 6 p.m. CT and will be televised by FOX Sports South, FOX Sports Southwest and Sun Sports.