Woods Honored by SBC

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Middle Tennessee strong safety Michael Woods was voted today by members of the media as the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week. It marks the Blue Raiders' third honor of the season and the second by a defensive player.

Woods made the game-deciding play in the Blue Raiders' win over New Mexico State on Saturday when he stepped in front of a Paul Dombroski pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown. It went into the record books as the third longest interception return in school history and the first pick for a touchdown since Kareem Bland's 71-yard return against Connecticut in 2000.

Woods' play against NMSU also ranks as the longest interception return in the history of the Sun Belt Conference. The previous mark was 88 yards by NMSU's Tony Lukins in 2001.

Woods, who has two interceptions on the season and four in his career, finished with six total tackles in the win over the Aggies.

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