Tigers defensive stud Zion Young wins SEC Player of the Week

Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and the Missouri Tigers needed that win just about as badly as they possibly could've this past weekend.

They've fought hard all season, but haven't faced too much competition, and it took until the third week of October to play a game away from Faurot Field. However, in the first opportunity away from home, they got the job done in a thriller.

Even though Auburn won't be an SEC Conference competitor this season, they've played some of the best in the conference tough, inching closer to spoiling a great season for a contender. Mizzou saw that first-hand Saturday night, where Auburn mistakes ultimately propelled the Tigers to a victory.

Apart from the home team's mistakes, Mizzou's defense, and specifically, their defensive line, came to play, and disrupted any flow that Auburn saw offensively.

Despite 11-plus men having an impact on the defensive side of the ball for Drinkwitz's squad, one stood out from the rest: true senior Zion Young, who was quickly recognized for his hard work in the contest.

The Georgia native went off in the matchup, having a no-doubt career night.

Young finished with a pair of sacks, his first ever two-sack performance in hsi four-year collegiate career.

He also added five total tackles, three of them solo, and 2.5 tackles for loss, halting the run game before it had any chance of starting.

One of his sacks ended Auburn's first overtime drive, as he took down quarterback Jackson Arnold, forcing a Tiger field goal attempt, which kicker Alex McPherson would miss.

The former Michigan State transfer was involved in nearly every overtime play that Auburn would run, not to mention his comments towards the Auburn players during the overtime coin toss were picked up on an officials microphone, making for a hilarious display of extra energy that fans loved to see him back up.

Alongside Young for the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week Award was Texas EDGE Colin Simmons, who had a trio of sacks in a narrow victory versus Kentucky.

The more this season goes on, the more hype that he's gotten. Not just from the Missouri locker room and coaches, but from NFL scouts as well.

Hopefully, Young's energy and strong performance will encourage the rest of the Tiger defense to step it up, as the competition only levels up from here.

His next chance to showcase his talents will be next Saturday afternoon, when the Tigers travel to Nashville to take on No. 10 Vanderbilt at 2:30 p.m. cst, with College Game Day and fans from all over watching closely.