BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright was named the SEC Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
Wright is the second UT player to earn freshman of the week honors this season, joining fellow running back Len’Neth Whitehead, who did so after his performance against Missouri. He is the sixth Vol to earn SEC weekly honors overall this year.
The Durham, North Carolina, native rushed for a game-high and career-best 112 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown as Tennessee topped Vanderbilt 45-21 in the regular season finale. Wright, stepping up in an injured Vol backfield, averaged 7.5 yards per carry while 46 of his rushing yards came after contact. He was part of a UT ground attack that finished with 285 rushing yards, 100 yards above what the Commodores came into the contest allowing per game.
Of Wright’s 112 yards, 86 came in the second half, including a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap his impressive day. In the month of November, Wright led all SEC freshmen in rushing yards per game (64.75) and total rushing yards (259).
With last Saturday’s win over Vanderbilt, Tennessee improved to 7-5 on the year and will find out its bowl destination sometime in the afternoon on Sunday, Dec. 5.
Tennessee 2021 SEC Weekly Honors
QB Hendon Hooker – Offensive (Nov. 8)
DB Brandon Turnage – Defensive (Oct. 11)
OL Cade Mays – Offensive Line (Oct. 4 & Nov. 8)
RB Len’Neth Whitehead – Freshman (Oct. 4)
RB Jaylen Wright – Freshman (Nov. 29)
RS Velus Jones Jr. – Special Teams (Nov. 22)
-UT Athletics
