Couple of Rebs Pick Up Honors

(UMAA)BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- For only the second time since the Southeastern Conference began handing out Players of the Week awards in 1983, Ole Miss has two selections from one game, as Peria Jerry and Daverin Geralds are this week's defensive line and offensive line honorees, respectively, the league office announced today.

Jerry becomes only the second Rebel to receive weekly accolades from the conference three times in one season, as he also earned defensive line distinction following the Arkansas and Vanderbilt games. Running back Randy Baldwin was also a three-time honoree for Ole Miss in 1990.



A senior tackle from Batesville, Miss., Jerry accounted for three total tackles with 2.5 TFLs, including a sack in Ole Miss’ 31-13 win at No. 18 LSU Saturday. Jerry helped the Rebels limit the Tigers to just 37 rushing yards on 29 attempts and sacked LSU quarterbacks four times.

An All-American candidate, Jerry is second in the SEC in tackles for loss, with 13 in 10 games played and boasts four sacks. He captains an Ole Miss defense that ranks second in the nation in TFLs (8.36 pg) and ninth in rushing yards allowed (97.4 ypg), which is second-best in the SEC.

Geralds' Player of the Week selection is the first of his career and gives the Rebels an offensive lineman honoree for the third straight game, as Maurice Miller took home POW accolades following the Auburn game and Michael Oher after ULM.

A junior center from Baton Rouge, Geralds returned home to grade out at 88 percent with eight knockdown blocks and 12 finishes against LSU. The Rebels gained 409 total offensive yards and kept the ball for 34:38 against the Tigers.

In the final quarter, Geralds and the Ole Miss offense kept the ball for 10:01, and in five scoring drives, the Rebels averaged 7.6 plays and 69 yards per drive.
After beginning his career on the defensive front, Geralds shifted to the offensive line midway through the 2007 campaign and has started every game at center this season. He has helped Ole Miss rank third in the SEC in rushing offense (180.1 ypg) and fourth in fewest sacks allowed (1.36 pg) this year.

The last time Ole Miss had two SEC Players of the Week from the same game was 1991, when kicker Brian Lee and defensive tackle Chad Brown were distinguished following the 22-3 season-opening win over Tulane. The Rebels have garnered seven weekly awards from the conference this season.

Ole Miss (7-4, 4-3 SEC) closes out the regular season Friday against Mississippi State (4-7, 2-5) in the 81st Battle for the Golden Egg and the 105th meeting in the series, which the Rebels lead 59-39-6. The game will be televised by Raycom Sports with kickoff set for 11:30 a.m. CT from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.