DALLAS (FWAA) – Ole Miss senior strong safety Matt Grier (Smithville,
Miss.) is this week's recipient of the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the
Week Award for his performance in the Rebels' 17-14 win over Florida this past Saturday
in Oxford.
Matt Grier
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Grier's two interceptions in the third quarter directly led to 15 Ole Miss points as the
Rebels erased a 14-2 halftime deficit in the upset of Florida. His first interception came
on Florida's first possession of the third quarter, leading to a Vashon Pearson 4-yard touchdown
run. A series later, Grier intercepted another Rex Grossman pass and returned it 24 yards for
what would prove to be the game-winning score. Grier also added 7 tackles, of which 2.5 were
behind the line of scrimmage.
A three-person panel from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selects the
winner of the weekly award.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club pick a National Defensive Player of the Week each
Monday. Grier will be added to the Watch List for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy which will be presented
on Dec. 9 in Charlotte, N.C., by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
2002 Bronko Nagurski Players of the Week
• Sept. 9: Maurice Sikes, Miami
• Sept. 16: Shane Walton, Notre Dame
• Sept. 23: Willie Pile, Virginia Tech
• Sept. 30: R.J. Jones, Missouri
• Oct. 7: Matt Grier, Mississippi
• Oct. 14: Corey Webster, LSU
• Oct. 21: Brandon Everage, Oklahoma
• Oct. 28: Terrell Suggs, Arizona State
• Nov. 4: Josh Ott, Boston College
• Nov. 11: Bobby Walker, Kansas State
Related Link:
• Charlotte Touchdown Club