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HOOVER, Ala. – After closing out the season with a 27-14 victory at Kentucky, Tennessee offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James and defensive lineman Corey Miller have earned SEC Player of the Week honors.
The double nod marks the first time since Oct. 9, 2004 that the Vols have had a defensive and offensive line player of the week when Jason Hall (DL) and Rob Smith (OL) achieved the feat.
It is the first career honor for both players, and the third and fourth player of the week honors for the Vols this season.
James, who made his 49th career start at right tackle on Saturday set the Tennessee record for most career starts by an offensive lineman, eclipsing the previous mark of 48 set by Jeff Smith from 1992-95. James has started and played every game at right tackle since 2010.
Against Kentucky, James helped block for Tennessee’s fifth 200-yard rushing game of the season as the Vols finished with 2,261 yards on the ground, the most since the 2004 team ran for 2,418 yards. James also helped running back Rajion Neal crack the 1,000-yard rush mark setting a block as Neal sprang for a 60-yard dash on the game’s second play from scrimmage. Neal finished the year with 1,124 yards.
Miller had a career game in his final game for the Vols breaking Tennessee’s 30-year old sack record set by Football Hall of Famer Reggie White. Miller had 4.5 sacks against the Wildcats, including a sack-fumble at the end of the game to break White’s record of four sacks against The Citadel on Oct. 1, 1983.
Miller finished the game with a career-best seven tackles, 4.5 sacks for a 28 yard loss, and one forced fumble.
With his 4.5 sacks against Kentucky, Miller finished the season with 6.5 sacks, the most since Parys Haralson, now of the New Orleans Saints had 8.5 and Hall had 7.0 in 2005.
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