BATON ROUGE – LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu has been named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in the Tigers’ 40-27 win over third-ranked Oregon on Saturday in the Cowboys Classic, the league office announced on Monday.
Mathieu, a sophomore from New Orleans, had another outstanding all-around game for the Tigers with team-high 10 tackles, one forced fumble, two pass breakups and a tackle for a loss. It was just the second start of Mathieu’s career.
Mathieu also scored LSU’s first touchdown of the game when he both stripped Oregon’s punt returner Kenyon Barner of the ball and then scooped up the fumble and raced three-yards for the score.
Mathieu, who is listed at 5-feet-9, 180 pounds, was at times the smallest player on the field. He played every defensive snap (82 plays) for the Tigers as LSU’s defense limited Oregon to just 335 total yards, including only 95 on the ground. LSU also held Oregon All-America running back LaMichael James to only 54 yards on 18 carries.
In 14 career games with the Tigers, Mathieu ranks second in school history with six forced fumbles. He’s also forced at least one turnover in six of the 14 games in his LSU career.
The defensive player of the week honor is the first of Mathieu’s career.
SEC Players of the Week (Sept. 5)
Offense: RB Vick Ballard, Mississippi St.
Defense: CB Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
Special Teams: RS Joe Adams, Arkansas
Offensive Lineman: OT Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina
Co-Defensive Linemen: DT Jaye Howard, Florida; DT Luke McDermott, Kentucky
Co-Freshmen: LB Trey Depriest, Alabama; RB/RS Tre Mason, Auburn