BATON ROUGE — LSU junior safety Chad Jones has been named the national defensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Foundation, the organization announced on Sunday.
Jones had seven tackles, including four solo, as well as a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown in LSU’s 30-26 win over Mississippi State in Starkville on Saturday. The punt return ranks as the second-longest in LSU history.
Jones had two key plays on LSU’s goalline stand against Mississippi State late in the fourth quarter ? breaking up a pass on third down at the one-yard line and then tackling quarterback Tyson Lee just short of the endzone on the fourth down attempt by the Bulldogs. Those two plays helped preserve LSU’s win over the Bulldogs.
The national defensive player of the week honor is the first of Jones’ career.
Oregon tight end Ed Dickson was the national offensive player of the week after catching 11 passes for 148 yard and three touchdowns in the Ducks’ 42-3 win over sixth-ranked California.
This is the sixth year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.
Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.