Kentucky’s upset of Texas A&M gave the Wildcats more than a 31-21 road win. It also put senior linebacker Sam Greene in the spotlight.
Greene was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after a day packed with momentum-swinging plays. He shut down two early Aggies drives, starting with a fourth-down stop on Rueben Owens II on the Kentucky 11-yard line during Texas A&M’s opening possession. On the next drive, Greene jumped Marcel Reed’s pass on second-and-8 at the Kentucky 27, then returned the interception seven yards.
He kept making his presence felt in the third quarter, stuffing Owens again on third-and-2 and helping force a punt that led to Kentucky’s third touchdown drive of the game. Greene finished with six tackles, one interception, one-half tackle for loss, and the fourth-down stop. It was the best game he has had since arriving at Kentucky after transferring from USC last year.
“Giant. Giant,” Stein said postgame of Greene’s game-changing plays.
“Getting stopped on downs is like a turnover. That was a huge momentum shift for us.
They were driving the ball a good amount in the first half. I think we only had 21 plays at the half on offense.
“But our defense made some really timely stops and really played hard the entire day. That’s a tough offense to stop.
They got a really good quarterback. They got a giant offensive line.
But I love (defensive coordinator) Jay Bateman and his plan and the way his players played.”
Afterward, Mont Dawson captured Greene embracing his mother, Londrea, who had made the trip to College Station.
Greene wasn’t the only Kentucky defender honored for the performance. Jordan Castell was named Panini Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Wildcats with 13 tackles, adding a pass breakup and an interception in the fourth quarter.
It was his second pick of the season and the fifth of his career. It was also his second interception at Kyle Field, after he had one there last season with the Florida Gators.
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