A record-breaking performance capped by a game-sealing tackle led Auburn safety Eric Winters to a weekly award.
Winters was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after his Week 1 performance against Baylor, recording a career-high 11 tackles in the Tigers' 17-16 win over the Baylor Bears in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta, Georgia. He finished with nine solo tackles, with none bigger than his stop of Baylor tight end Matthew Klopfenstein at the goal line late in the 4th quarter, which thwarted a two-point conversion attempt and sealed the win for the Tigers.
Winters' clutch tackle came one play after miscommunication in coverage led to a Baylor touchdown, cutting the Tigers' lead to just one point with 0:09 remaining in regulation. Baylor elected
to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt, which allowed Winters a shot at redemption. It was a shot he did not miss.
"(DJ) Durkin always says 'next play mentality,'" Winters said postgame. "The next play came, (and I) made a play to win us the game."
Winters splits this week's award with Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles, who logged five tackles and created two turnovers in the Longhorns' 59-7 win over Texas State on Saturday. Winters will work to earn a second consecutive SEC award this week when Auburn faces Southern Miss on Saturday; kickoff is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn safety Eric Winters honored by SEC after clutch performance
