Stupart rumbles to TSWA defensive player of the week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman linebacker Sha’Heem Stupart (Taylors, S.C.) has been lauded by the Tennessee Sportswriter’s Association as the state’s defensive player of the week.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman linebacker Sha'Heem Stupart (Taylors, S.C.) has been lauded by the Tennessee Sportswriter's Association as the state's defensive player of the week.
Stupart notched a career-best 14 tackles in the Eagles' loss to No. 7 Humboldt State on Sept. 1.
The preseason first team All-SAC selection posted seven solo stops. The junior linebacker made six tackles in the contest for no gain, one yard or a loss.
Stupart helped limit HSU running back Ja'Quan Gardner, last year's nation's leading rusher, to 138 yards, nearly 100 yards below the 222 yards per game he averaged last year.
The 14 tackles Stupart had are the most since Jerry Miclisse (Homestead, Fla.) posted a 13-tackle performance last Sept. 26 at Mars Hill. The stops are the most by a Carson-Newman linebacker since All-American Jaycob Coleman's 17-tackle performance against Tusculum in 2013.
Dating back to last year, Carson-Newman has had a player named TSWA player of the week four out of the last seven times the award has been presented.
Justin Long notched it on Oct. 19, Xavier McFadden on Oct. 26 and Jason Williams on Nov. 9 in 2015.
Stupart and the rest of the Eagles will be in action Saturday at Saint Augustine's. Kickoff between the Eagles and Falcons is set for 1:00 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 12:00 p.m. with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
