SEC Ballers of the Week, Week 8

These players "balled-out" in Week 8...

We are now through eight weeks of the 2012 college football season, and the SEC divisional races have really begun to take shape.

The Gators now stand alone in the East, and Bama is tied with Mississippi State heading into a Week 9 match-up that heavily favors the Tide. Can LSU pull it together on offense and take control of the West in two weeks? Will Georgia man up on defense and slow down Driskel and Gillislee in Jacksonville this coming week?

Only time will tell, we just have to sit back and enjoy the ride leading up to what will be an epic clash in Atlanta.

Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Missouri all had a bye this past weekend, which means they kept themselves out of the loss column; an accomplishment that hasn't happened too much this season.

Loucheiz Purifoy, CB-Florida

Loucheiz Purifoy instantly got things rockin' in The Swamp against the Gamecocks on Saturday.

On the very first play of the game, Purifoy rushed in on a corner blitz and knocked the ball out of South Carolina quarterback Conner Shaw's hand forcing a fumble that led to a Florida touchdown. The Florida coaching staff loves Purifoy's talent. They even lined him up on offense and targeted him, but the ball fell incomplete.

After all was said in done, the cornerback finished the game with 3 tackles (1 for loss) and 2 forced fumbles in a 44-11 route of South Carolina.

Aaron Murray, QB-Georgia

Aaron Murray definitely found redemption this weekend in Lexington.

The Junior quarterback was named this week's SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Murray passed for a career high 427 yards on 30 completions, along with four touchdowns and no interceptions. The veteran QB is now Georgia's all-time leader in touchdown passes (75).

DeVonte Holloman, LB-South Carolina

Despite DeVonte Holloman's effort, South Carolina was straight up "Cock Blocked" in Gainesville this past weekend.

Holloman racked up eight tackles and a sack against the Gators offense. South Carolina has been eliminated from SEC East contention.

Zac Stacy, RB-Vanderbilt

Zac Stacy gashed the Auburn defense all afternoon this past Saturday.

As if Auburn's spirit has not been broken already this season, Stacy helped remind them of the awful season they are having with an outstanding 169 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

Zac Stacy ran his way into the Vanderbilt record book this weekend, becoming the schools all-time leading rusher with 2,670 yards.

Michael Palardy, K/P-Tennessee

The Vols really stood no chance against the mighty Crimson Tide in the annual "Third Saturday in October" rivalry game.

Kicker and punter Michael Palardy was perfect with two field goals (31,32 yards), and five punts for an average of 48.2 yards.

Landon Foster, P-Kentucky

An outstanding third consecutive appearance on "SEC Ballers of the Week" for Kentucky punter Landon Foster.

He punted the ball six times and averaged 44.5 yards per punt, two of which landed inside the 20-yard line. Foster's success on this list is not a good sign for the rest of his team; it is never good when a punter is one of your most influential players.

Amari Cooper, WR-Alabama

Freshman stud Amari Cooper has become quarterback A.J. McCarron's favorite target this season.

The freshman of the week burned the Tennessee secondary, amassing 162 yards on seven receptions and two touchdowns. Cooper leads the Tide in receiving yards (425), touchdown catches (5), and receptions (28).

The future is bright for the young wide-out.

Johnthan Banks, CB-Mississippi State

The 7-0 Mississippi State Bulldogs are red-hot heading into next week's match-up against divisional rival Alabama. State will need Johnthan Banks to have a game like he had against Middle Tennessee State and then some to take down the Tide.

Banks finished his night with eight tackles, one pick, and two pass deflections in the victory over MTSU.

Kevin Minter, LB-LSU

SEC Defensive Player of the Week Kevin Minter and the LSU defense stifled the SEC's top scoring offense this weekend in College Station.

Minter was in full beast mode on Saturday piling up 12 tackles, a sack and an interception. The SEC's leading rusher heading into the game, Johnny Manziel, was limited to only 27 yards on the ground and held without a touchdown for the first time this year.

Damontre Moore, DE-Texas A&M

The SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, Damontre Moore, manhandled the underachieving LSU offense.

Moore did work for the Aggies, including eight solo tackles (two for loss), a sack and a pass deflection. Moore leads the FBS in tackles for loss (2.43 per game) and sacks (1.36 per game).

Cassanova McKinzy, LB-Auburn

Making his first start of the season, Cassanova McKinzy recorded a team high 12 tackles with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Talk about making an impact. The Tigers just need to multiply him by 11 and the season should turn around in no time.