FORT WORTH, Texas –– The University of Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance on Saturday against SMU, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced today.
It marks the first time that a Tulsa player has won the prestigious Bronko Nagurski weekly award since it began in 2001.
Collins, a 6-4, 260-pound junior from Hominy, Okla., led a defensive effort that held an SMU offense that entered the game eighth in the nation in total offense (526.3 ypg) to just 351 yards, and more importantly shut the Mustangs out in the second half giving up only 165 yards in the final two quarters while its offense mounted the comeback.