Game Ball: USC LB Malcolm Smith

The Southern California Trojans downed the cross-town rival UCLA Bruins 28-7.

The Trojan defense was strong recording three interceptions, forcing a fumble and limiting the Bruins to just one score in the fourth quarter.  Leading the USC defense was junior linebacker Malcolm Smith.  Smith returned the first UCLA pic 62 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.  He also had a game high 15 tackles.

“(Smith) was all over the field,” head coach Pete Carroll said. ”He is one of our core guys”.

For his great play, Malcolm Smith is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: Syracuse LB Doug Hogue

The Syracuse Orange beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 31-13 at home to get their first Big East conference win this season.  In a stellar defensive performance, Orange linebacker Doug Hogue had 6 1/2 tackles for losses setting a Syracuse record for tackles for loss in a single game.  In all, Hogue finished with seven tackles, one forced fumble and 3 1/2 sacks.

“From a defensive standpoint, everybody was doing their jobs,” Hogue said, crediting his teammates. “They allowed me to wiggle loose and I did what I did.”

For his great play, Doug Hogue is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: North Carolina DB Kendric Burney

Great defensive play helped the North Carolina Tar heels upset the Miami Hurricanes 33-24 at Chapel Hill.  Junior cornerback Kendric Burney had three interceptions on the day.  Two of the interceptions were returned for touchdowns, one by Burney and another by teammate Melvin Williams after Burney fumbled in his direction.

“Kendric Burney made some just phenomenal plays,” Head Coach Butch Davis said. ”The interceptions couldn’t have come at a bigger time.”

Burney’s 170 return yards set a North Carolina season return yardage record.

For his great play, Kendric Burney is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: Ohio State DL Cameron Heyward

Great defensive play helped the Ohio State Buckeyes hold the Penn State Nittany Lions 24-7 on the road in Happy Valley.  Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward had eleven tackles and a career high two sacks.  Three of his eleven stops were for losses.  The Nittany Lions were held to just 76 yards rushing and 201 total yards of offense.

For his great play, Cameron Heyward is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: Nebraska DL Jason Crick

Another impressive defensive effort gave the Nebraska Cornhuskers the edge over the Baylor Bears 20-10 in Waco.  In a year that has seen Ndamukong Suh garner most of the attention, Jared Crick served notice there are definitely two defensive tackles in Lincoln.  Crick dominated the game with a team leading 13 tackles of which 10 were solo.  He set a Nebraska school record with 5 sacks and also recovered one fumble.

“Was that a monster game by him? I’m proud of him,” Defensive Coordinator Carl Pelini said. ”He just plays his tail off, doesn’t he? He’s strong, he’s fast. He keeps getting better.”

For his great play, Jared Crick is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: Miss. St. DB Johnthan Banks

The future is looking brighter in Starkville.  Mississippi State true freshman defensive back Johnthan Banks had a tremendous game as the Bulldogs came up short with the Florida Gators 29-19.  In just his second start, Banks returned two Tim Tebow interceptions for touchdowns.  Banks returned the first pick 100 yards just before half time to bring the Bulldogs to within 3 points.  The second was for 20 yards late in the fourth quarter.  The two interception returns by an individual in one game set a school record for Mississippi State.

For his great play, Johnthan Banks is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan

The Purdue Boilermakers upset the Ohio State Buckeyes 26-18 in West Lafayette.  Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan had a great day as he recorded three sacks, forced two fumbles and of which he recovered one.  He also led the team with nine tackles. Purdue held the Buckeyes to just 66 yards rushing.

For his great play, Ryan Kerrigan is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh

The Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive play held the Missouri Tigers in check on a wet track in Columbia, 27-12.  Leading the way up front was defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.  Suh disrupted Mizzou on almost every play.  He had six tackles, one sack, a fourth quarter interception and also forced a fumble.  The Huskers defense held the Tigers to just 225 total yards. Suh was also named the Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week.

For his great play, Ndamukong Suh is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: Maryland LB Demetrius Hartsfield

The Maryland Terrapins were able to slow the Clemson Tigers 24-21 in College Park.  In an evenly contested game, freshman linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield came up big for the Terps.  Hartsfield, who had a team high ten tackles, had a sack forcing a fumble that he recovered himself.  The recovery with 27 seconds left iced the victory for Maryland.

For his great play, Demetrius Hartsfield is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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Game Ball: Iowa LB Pat Angerer

The Iowa Hawkeyes continued to show their defensive strength as they stopped then fifth-ranked Penn State 21-10 in Happy Valley.  After trailing 10-0 in the first two minutes, Iowa held the Nittany Lions scoreless the rest of the game. Leading Iowa was senior linebacker Pat Angerer. The Lott Trophy candidate had 14 tackles and an interception return that set up a short Hawkeye score.  Angerer also caused a fumble late in the game to secure the win.

For his great play, Pat Angerer is awarded the “Legends Nike Game Ball” for the National Defensive Player of the Week.

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