Mizzou Football junior defensive lineman Kony Ealy (New Madrid, Mo.) has been named the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Line Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday. Ealy had one of the single biggest individual plays of the 45-28 win at Indiana, taking an interception back 49 yards for a touchdown during a 24-0 run that put the game away for the Tigers.

Ealy leapt to knock down an Indiana pass on a 3rd-and-3 play from Mizzou’s 46-yard line with two minutes left in the half. Instead of only getting a pass breakup, Ealy held on to the ball and raced the other way for a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown. The play staked the Tigers out to a 28-14 lead.

The pickoff was the first of Ealy’s career, and he ended the night with two total pass break ups, while adding one solo tackle as the Tigers held the Hoosier offense in check throughout the contest. Through three games, Ealy leads the Tiger defense with four pass break ups.

Ealy is the second Tiger to earn Defensive Line Player of the Week from the SEC after junior Markus Golden (St. Louis, Mo.) earned the award for his own defensive score in the Sept. 7 win over Toledo.

Mizzou (3-0) returns home to Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium to host non-conference foe Arkansas State on Saturday, Sept. 28, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on CSS. Ticket information is available at MUTigers.com.

— MU Sports Information —