NEW ORLEANS – For his role in helping the University of South Alabama football program win the "Battle For The Belt" on Saturday, Kalen Jackson was voted the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday.

The junior linebacker from Magee, Miss., intercepted two passes — which led directly to the Jaguars' final 10 points — and collected six solo stops, with two of those for loss, to help USA earn a 24-18 victory at Troy in the league opener for both teams.

The Jags were ahead 14-8 at the start of the second quarter when, on the Trojans' first possession of the period, Jackson posted a stop nine yards behind the line of scrimmage on their initial snap before intercepting a pass he ran back 10 yards to the Troy-9 that would lead to a touchdown three plays later.  With USA leading 21-15 in the third quarter, he picked off another pass while falling backward; the Jags were able to move down the field and convert a 33-yard field goal in the last minute of the period for the team's final points.

It was the first time since a Sept. 14, 2013, win over Western Kentucky that a Jaguar has intercepted two passes in the same game.

He's the second member of the program to receive the award — which is voted on by members of the media who cover the league — joining defensive back Jeremy Reaves, who was honored on Sept. 21.

Jackson and the Jags are off until Tuesday, Oct. 13, when they will play host to Arkansas State in a contest that will be televised nationally on ESPN2.  Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—