DALLAS – Recognition for Terrell Pinson’s standout performance against UTSA continued to come rolling in Tuesday as the senior was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week.
Pinson had a career day in LA Tech’s 27-20 win over UTSA, one worthy of a helmet sticker from ESPN’s GameDay Final as one of the top players in college football Saturday. He registered seven total tackles (four solo, three assisted) with a solo stop for a loss of two yards, two interceptions returned for 34 yards, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, two pass break-ups (one of which was almost a third interception) and a quarterback hurry.
“I look at Terrell Pinson and what he went through as a young man who committed to West Virginia, but things fell through, and we were able to pick him up late,” Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz said after the game. “We are very fortunate he went here. … He moved from safety to linebacker and is learning a new position. We told him he needed to move, and he told us that if that was what the team needed, he would move. I thought he did an outstanding job.”
His performance led Tech’s defense to force four UTSA turnovers despite the Roadrunners entering the game at plus-3 in turnover margin for the year. The win marks Louisiana Tech’s third 3-0 start in league play since the school moved up to the Division I-A/FBS level in 1989.
On Monday, Pinson was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week and the College Football Performance Awards National Defensive Player of the Week.
Pinson and Louisiana Tech return to action this Saturday as the Bulldogs travel to Southern Miss for the Rivalry in Dixie Game with a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff set on the American Sports Network.