POSTED: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 3:30pm
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 4:10pm
Baton Rouge, La — LSU’s Kevin Minter added two more national awards to his list on Tuesday as the junior linebacker was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America, as well as being cited by the Chuck Bednarik Award as its player of the week.
Minter, who was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week and the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, had perhaps his best all-around game as a Tiger with 12 tackles, including one for a 7-yard loss, and an interception in the 24-19 win over 19th-ranked Texas A&M.
Minter also broke up a pass and had two quarterback hurries in playing every defensive snap (94) in the LSU victory.
Minter played a key role in LSU holding the Aggies – the Southeastern Conference’s top scoring team - to just 19 points, 28 below their season average. LSU also limited Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, the SEC’s leading rusher going into the game, to a season-low 27 yards. It was also the first time this year that Manziel didn’t account for a touchdown rushing or passing.
Minter’s third quarter interception halted an Texas A&M drive inside the LSU 45-yard line and his first quarter sack came on third-down and pushed the Aggies out of field goal range.
For the game, the Tigers forced a season-high five turnover (3 interceptions and 2 fumbles) as LSU improved to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the league action. In eight games this year, Minter continues to lead the Tigers and ranks among the top five in the SEC in tackles with 75.