BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford sophomore safety Jaquiski Tartt was named the Southern Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against West Alabama when the league released its weekly football awards on Monday.
 
Tartt was responsible for three turnovers as Samford posted a 34-6 win over West Alabama on Saturday.  Tartt picked off two passes, recovered a fumble and recorded five tackles in the win. 
 
Midway through the second quarter, the Mobile, Ala., native recovered a fumbled punt return to set up the Bulldogs at the UWA 35-yard line.  That set up Samford's third touchdown of the game to give the Bulldogs a 21-3 lead.  He picked off his first pass later in the second quarter and grabbed a second interception in the fourth quarter after UWA had moved the ball to the Samford 35-yard line. 
 
For the season, Tartt is tied for second on the team with 14 tackles through the first two games of the season.
 
Tartt and the Bulldogs will play their first road game of the season this week when they travel to Boiling Springs, N.C., to take on Gardner-Webb. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. (CT) kickoff and can be heard locally on ESPN 97.3 The Zone, or worldwide on the internet at www.973thezone.com.