Pensacola athletes claimed a third of the Southeastern Conference’s weekly football awards after a pair of massive performances.

Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood, a Booker T. Washington graduate, was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, while Florida wide receiver Jacob Copeland, an Escambia graduate, was named SEC Freshman of the Week.

Leatherwood, a junior left tackle, played 62 snaps against Tennessee and missed just one assignment in a 35-13 win, according to 247 Sports’ site BamaOnLine. With starting quarterback Tua Taigovailoa injured, the Alabama offense rushed for 140 yards with its backs averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

A five-star prospect out of Washington High, Leatherwood’s stock has risen ever since his debut in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Georgia, which the Crimson Tide won over Georgia in overtime. Leatherwood replaced injured star Jonah Williams in that game.

More:Leatherwood's impact in Alabama win came as no surprise to those who know him best

Copeland, a redshirt freshman receiver with the Gators, stepped up in a big way amid sloppy conditions against South Carolina, hauling in an athletic 37-yard touchdown pass in Florida’s 38-27 win. Copeland was the Gators’ top receiver with three catches for 89 yards.

After battling injuries last season, Copeland’s role has steadily grown with the Gators. His career-long touchdown on Saturday required Copeland to rise up between two defenders to make the catch before eluding another on the run to score.

It is perhaps fitting as two of the area's top recent prospects earn these awards as their alma maters, Washington and Escambia, prepare for an unbeaten contest to decide the District 1-6A title Friday.

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Pensacola in the Mountain West

Utah State running back Gerold Bright turned 15 carries into 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 36-10 win over Nevada this weekend. Bright scored on touchdown carries of 9 and 67 yards, chalking his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and seventh of his career.

The former Escambia High playmaker is seventh in the Mountain West Conference in rushing with 445 yards.

Fellow Mountain West Conference standout Dante Wright, a freshman receiver at Colorado State, is fourth in the conference in receiving with 595 yards and 85 per game. The former Navarre star is the two-time reigning PNJ Player of the Year.

Eric J. Wallace can be reached at ejwallace@pnj.com or 850-525-5087.

SEC Weekly Honors

Offensive Player of the Week – D’Andre Swift, Georgia

Defensive Player of the Week – Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M AND Jacob Stevens, LSU

Special Teams Player of the Week – Harrison Smith, Vanderbilt

Offensive Lineman of the Week – Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

Defensive Lineman of the Week – Marlon Davidson, Auburn

Freshman of the Week – Jacob Copeland, Florida