VANDERBILT'S BENOIST IS BRONKO NAGURSKI PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - Vanderbilt linebacker Patrick Benoist has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Sept. 6.

Benoist, a 6-0, 222-pound junior from Southlake, Texas, keyed the Commodores' 24-17 upset of South Carolina last Thursday night. He had 15 tackles, including a six-yard sack, a two-yard tackle-for-loss and a pass deflection. His performance helped limit South Carolina to just one second-half score as Vandy knocked off a ranked opponent at home for the first time since 1992.

Benoist will be added to the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 7 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 17.

Each week during the 2008 season the FWAA All-America Committee will select a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.

Last season, LSU tackle Glenn Dorsey won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 13th season the FWAA has named a national defensive player of the year.