AL.comâs SEC football players of the week for Week 8 of 2023 season

Here are AL.com’s SEC football players of the week for Week 8 of the 2023 season:

Offense

Cody Schrader, RB, Missouri — Schrader ran for 159 yards and two touchdown as the 20th-ranked Tigers improved to 7-1 with a 34-12 victory over South Carolina. Schrader, a former walk-on who began his career at Division II Truman Sate, also caught two passes as the Tigers averaged 6.4 yards per play.

Defense

Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State — Watson totaled 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks as the Bulldogs held Arkansas to just a field goal in a 7-3 victory for their first SEC win of the season. The senior from Maplesville and his teammates held the Razorbacks to just 200 total yards, including only 97 passing.

Special teams

Will Reichard, K, Alabama — Reichard is no longer filling in at punter, but had an outstanding all-around game in the Crimson Tide’s 34-20 comeback victory over Tennessee. The senior from Hoover went 2-for-2 on field goals, hitting a 42-yarder and a 50-yarder — the latter of which gave Alabama a 27-20 lead in the fourth quarter — and also made all four extra points and got touchbacks on five of seven kickoffs.

Others of note …

Offense: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU; Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss; Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama; Brian Thomas, WR, LSU; Squirrel White, WR, Tennessee

Defense: Chris Braswell, LB, Alabama; Cedric Johnson, DE, Ole Miss; Andre Sam, SAF, LSU; Debo Williams, LB, South Carolina

Special teams: Oscar Chapman, P, Auburn; Max Fletcher, P, Arkansas; Mitch Jeter, K, South Carolina; Jackson Ross, P, Tennessee