PRICE NAMED BEDNARIK AWARD NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
11/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Accolades for Pitt senior defensive end Ejuan Price continue to roll in following his epic performance against Louisville.
The latest honor comes from the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia, which named Price the Chuck Bednarik Award National Defensive Player of the Week.
Previously, Price was recognized as the AutoNation National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), the Athlon Defensive Player of the Week and the Atlantic Coast Conference's Defensive Lineman of the Week. He was also given a Helmet Sticker by Joe Tessitore on Saturday's ESPN College Football Final.
Price was an unblockable force in Pitt's 45-34 triumph over the Cardinals. The senior collected 10 tackles, six tackles for loss and five quarterback sacks. His sack total was the highest by a Bowl Subdivision player this year and fell one shy of the national record. He is the first Pitt player with at least 4.5 sacks in a game since 1987.
Price (Rankin, Pa./Woodland Hills) spearheaded a defensive effort that limited Louisville to minus-one yard on the ground, the first time Pitt held an opponent to negative yards rushing since 2002.
"When you get five sacks you're doing something special," Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "He's explosive. Early in that first quarter I was like, 'They can't block Ejuan.' I mean he was just staying low, coming around the corner with the speed rush. He's fast. He's feeling it. So five sacks, that's a giant man's game right there. I'm proud of him."
This has been a resurgent season for Price, who was limited to only six games the past three years due to three different injuries. An unknown at the start of fall camp, he is now a driving force behind one of the country's most productive defenses.
Price is fourth in the nation and first in the ACC with an average of 1.05 sacks per game. He has 11.5 total sacks, the most by a Pitt player since 2000. He has compiled 18 tackles for loss on the year, ranking sixth nationally in that category and second in the ACC (1.6 TFLs/game).
Pitt (8-3, 6-1 ACC) hosts Miami (7-4, 4-3) this Friday at Heinz Field. The game will kick off at noon and be nationally televised by ESPN2.
—PITT—
