In just the fifth game of his Auburn career, freshman defensive end Carl Lawson showed Tiger fans Saturday night why he was one of the nation's top recruits coming out of high school.
On Tuesday, the Alpharetta, Ga. native earned his first national and conference honors for his breakout performance against No. 24 Ole Miss.
The College Football Performance Awards, the largest weekly honors organization in college football, named Lawson the National Defensive Line Performer of the Week. Lawson also received Freshman of the Week honors from the Southeastern Conference.
"I'm so humbled," Lawson said after the Ole Miss win. "Words cannot express how excited I am."
Lawson more than doubled his season stat totals Saturday night with six tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. The freshman's final sack on Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace sealed the 30-22 upset victory for the Tigers.
According to defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, Lawson shone against the Rebels because he was able to use his elite physicality and aggression while staying in the defensive scheme.
"He's really starting to feel more comfortable with his assignments," Johnson said Saturday night. "He's able to play and turn himself loose. He's always been physical and reckless."
Lawson's performance was part of one of the best defensive line games in Auburn football history. The Tigers' six sacks were the most since the 11 sacks in the famous 2005 "Honk if You Sacked Brodie Croyle" Iron Bowl, and their 14 tackles-for-loss were the most since the undefeated 2004 Tigers' game versus Kentucky.
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