Dogs DE Houston named SEC player of week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and Georgia linebacker Justin Houston are SEC offensive and defensive players of the week.

Special teams honors Monday went to Arkansas receiver and return man Joe Adams.

Newton ran for a career-best 217 yards and two touchdowns against LSU, breaking the SEC single-season rushing record by a quarterback.

Houston had 3.5 tackles for a loss, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble in Georgia's win over Kentucky.

Third on Georgia's defense with 40 tackles this season, Houston remains the SEC leader in sacks with 8.5 and is second in the league with 14.0 tackles for loss. Houston is playing his first season at outside linebacker after lining up as defensive end his first three years.

Thanks in part of Houston's presence, the Bulldogs have forced 15 turnovers and converted them into 52 points while Georgia has only had eight miscues that have turned into seven points. This turnover margin (+7) ranks second in the SEC and 18th in the nation.

Houston was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week last season for his performance against Arizona State. This is Georgia's fourth SEC weekly football award of the 2010 season.

The Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3 SEC) travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to face Florida (4-3, 2-3) on Oct. 30 at 3:30 p.m. Georgia's game will be televised on CBS, marking the eighth consecutive time that the network has televised this matchup.