Al Blades Named Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player Of Week

Nov. 7, 2000

DALLAS – University of Miami strong safety Al Blades has become the second Hurricanes player this season to be named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America.

Blades, a senior, posted a career-high 16 tackles in Miami’s 41-21 victory over Virginia Tech last Saturday. He had 12 unassisted tackles, including a series of key stops on short-yardage running plays. He also added one tackle for loss. Blades is second on the team with 60 tackles this season and joins teammate linebacker Dan Morgan as a weekly Nagurski winner.

The Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week is selected by a panel of writers from the FWAA. The FWAA also names the best defensive player in college football at the end of the season.

The recipient receives the Bronko Nagurski Trophy at a banquet which is hosted by the Charlotte Touchdown Club on Dec. 4 in Charlotte, N.C.

2000 FWAA Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of Week Winners:

Oct. 28 – Oklahoma linebacker Torrance Marshall, Oct. 21 – Virginia Tech safety Willie Pile, Oct. 14 – UCLA free safety Nnamdi Asomugha, Oct. 7 – MIAMI LINEBACKER DAN MORGAN, Sept. 30 – Mississippi State tackle Willie Blade, Sept. 23 – Northwestern University linebacker Kevin Bentley, Sept. 16 – Washington tackle Larry Tripplett, Sept. 9 – Nebraska linebacker Carlos Polk, Sept. 2 – Rice strong safety Travis Ortega