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LSU’S MATHIEU NAMED WALTER CAMP NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BATON
ROUGE – LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu has been named the Walter
Camp National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the
Tigers’ 41-17 win over third-ranked Arkansas on Friday.
Mathieu
led an LSU defense that held the SEC’s most powerful offense to only 10
points and 254 total yards. Arkansas went into the game averaging 39
points and 463 total yards per game.
Against Arkansas,
Mathieu moved from his normal cornerback position to safety where he
filled in for an injured Eric Reid. In his first career start at that
position, Mathieu responded by leading the Tigers with eight tackles,
two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
The two forced
fumbles ran his career total to 11, which ranks as the seventh-highest
total in NCAA history and ties Guss Scott of Florida for the SEC
record. The NCAA record for career forced fumble is 14 held by four
players – Terrell Suggs (Arizona State), Antwan Peek (Cincinnati),
Kenechi Udeze (Southern Cal), and Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue).
In
addition to his defensive play against Arkansas, Mathieu returned a
punt 92 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter that tied the game
at 14-14.
For the year, Mathieu leads the Tigers with 66
tackles to go along with 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two
interceptions, seven pass breakups, six forced fumbles and four fumble
recoveries.
The Walter Camp National Defensive Player of
the Week honor is the second this year for Mathieu as he claimed the
award for his play in the win over West Virginia. Mathieu has also been
recognized as the SEC Defensive Player of the Week one time this year
as well as the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week, both of those
coming for his play against Oregon.
Mathieu and the rest
of the Tigers return to action on Saturday when they travel to Atlanta
to face Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
CT on CBS.
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