Houston, Fairley and Murray, oh my!

A few afternoon notes for your Wednesday:

- Georgia OLB Justin Houston is one of five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the nation's top defensive player. Houston leads the SEC with 10 sacks and is second in tackles-for-loss.

A fellow named Nick Fairley, whom I understand plays for Auburn, is also one of the Nagurski finalists. The others are LSU's Patrick Peterson, Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers and Boston College's Luke Kuechly.

So yeah, the best five defensive players in the country play in the SEC and ACC, at least according to that measure.

- Speaking of Fairley, Auburn head coach Gene Chizik was asked on the SEC teleconference what he thought of people saying that Fairley was a dirty player.

“I don’t know how people refer to him. I’m not really sure what you’re talking about," Chizik said. "But certainly no one teaches that. He’s a very try-hard guy. He plays with great effort and great passion for the game.”

Chizik also opened his appearance on the teleconference by saying he would only take questions concerning Cam Newton's "play in the first 11 games."

- On the same conference call, Georgia head coach Mark Richt updated the status of quarterback Aaron Murray. It sounds like Murray will be held out of Georgia's next practice, Thursday, but Richt said he was "very hopeful" that Murray would be able to practice Monday and "do everything" at that practice.

Murray is dealing with a bruised sternum and a bruised knee, which he suffered, in case you hadn't heard, last Saturday upon being hit by Fairley.

- The Bulldogs are just having a lifting day today. But the coordinators and some players will be available to the media later, and I'll have updates after then.