DALLAS (FWAA) Oklahoma cornerback Jamell Fleming has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 8.
Fleming, a 5-11, 191-pound senior from Arlington, Texas, had a career-high 13 tackles in Oklahoma's decisive 55-17 victory over rival Texas in Dallas. He also returned a fumble 56 yards for a touchdown and forced a fumble. The touchdown was one of three defensive touchdowns scored by the Sooners. Eleven of Fleming's tackles were unassisted and two went for three yards in losses.
Fleming is the second Oklahoma player to be named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week this season. Three weeks ago, Javon Harris earned the honor in OU's win at Florida State.
Fleming will be added to the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 12 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. The keynote address will be given by Georgia head coach Mark Richt and Florida's Jack Youngblood from the Class of 1970 will receive this year's Bronko Nagurski Legends Award. Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 17.
Each week during the 2011 season the FWAA All-America Committee has selected a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.
Last season, Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 16th season the FWAA named a national defensive player of the year.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization
founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football
for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists,
as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works
to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America
team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve
Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com or 972-713-6198.
2011 Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week
Sept. 3: Nordly Capi, Colorado State
· Sept. 10: Ja'Gared Davis, SMU
· Sept. 17: Javon Harris, Oklahoma
· Sept. 24: Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech
· Oct. 1: Brady Amack, Air Force
· Oct. 8: Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma
· Oct. 15: Vinny Curry, Marshall
· Oct. 22: Kourtnei Brown, Clemson
· Oct. 29: Jarvis Jones, Georgia
· Nov. 5: Eric Reid, LSU