DALLAS (FWAA) –  Linebacker Dorian O'Daniel has been a mainstay for Clemson's dominant defense this season, and had his most complete game of the year as the 2nd-ranked Tigers stayed unbeaten with a 31-17 win at No. 12 Virginia Tech. With 10 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown, he earned  FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honors for the week of Sept. 30.

O'Daniel

The performance by the 6-2, 215-pound graduate student and three-year letterman from Olney, Md., helped extend Clemson's lead twice in the game. His fumble recovery in the third quarter led to a Clemson touchdown and a 24-3 lead and, after Virginia Tech pulled back to within two touchdowns, O'Daniel's pick-six in the fourth quarter thwarted any comeback hopes for the Hokies.

For the season, O'Daniel leads Clemson in tackles with 42, has five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interception returns for scores and a fumble recovery. In consecutive road games against top-15 opponents, O'Daniel has returned interceptions for touchdowns, the other coming on a 44-yard return in Clemson's win at then-No. 14 Louisville on Sept. 16. He is the first linebacker in school history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a season, and is the school's first defensive player regardless of position to have two interception returns for scores in a year since 1990.

O'Daniel is the second Clemson player to be honored as the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week this season. Defensive end Austin Bryant earned the honor following Clemson's 14-6 win over then-No. 13 Auburn. Clemson's defense is in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense (4th, 10.8 ppg), total defense (7th, 250.0 ypg), fewest yards allowed per play (6th, 3.87 ypp) and fewest yards allowed per pass attempt (9th, 5.3 ypa).

Each Tuesday during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. O'Daniel will be added to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Wed., Nov. 15. The winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2017 FWAA All-America Team.

The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's entire membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. The committee members then select the winner as the best defensive player in college football.

The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, presented by ACN, will be held on Mon., Dec. 4 at the Charlotte Convention Center. In addition to the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner's announcement, the banquet will also celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award, sponsored by the CTC and Florida East Coast Railway.

The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story.

The Football Writers Association of America, founded in 1941, consists of 1,400 men and women who cover college football. 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 game-day 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.

ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE TOUCHDOWN CLUB AND ITS SPONSORS

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 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. Since 1991, the club has raised more than $2,000,000 to benefit area high school and collegiate athletics. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.

ACN, Inc.
Founded in 1993, ACN is the world's largest direct seller of telecommunications, energy and essential services for residential and business customers. ACN provides the services people need and use every day including phone service, high-speed internet, wireless, television, security and automation, computer support, payment processing and natural gas and electricity. ACN operates in 25 countries with offices located throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. For more information, visit myacn.com. For information on ACN's home-based business opportunity, visit acninc.com.

Florida East Coast Railway
FECR is a regional freight railroad that extends along a 351-mile corridor between Jacksonville, Fla., and Miami, Fla., with exclusive rail access to the Port of Palm Beach, Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale) and the Port of Miami. For more information, visit fecrwy.com.

Electrolux
Electrolux is a global leader in appliances for household and professional use, selling more than 50 million products to customers in more than 150 countries every year. The company focuses on innovations that are thoughtfully designed, based on extensive consumer insight, to meet the real needs of consumers and professionals. Electrolux products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, cookers and air-conditioners sold under esteemed brands such as Electrolux, Frigidaire, Kelvinator, AEG, and Eureka. In 2012, Electrolux had sales of $17 billion ($5.1 billion in North America) and 58,000 employees. The Electrolux North American headquarters is located at 10200 David Taylor Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262 in the University Research Park. For more information visit http://newsroom.electrolux.com/us/.

2017 Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week
• Weekend of Sept. 2: Jordan Wyatt, SMU
• Weekend of Sept. 9: Austin Bryant, Clemson
• Weekend of Sept. 16: Kameron Kelly, San Diego State
• Weekend of Sept. 23: Josey Jewell, Iowa
• Weekend of Sept. 30: Dorian O'Daniel, Clemson
• Weekend of Oct. 7: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
• Weekend of Oct. 14: Austin Hall, Memphis
• Weekend of Oct. 21: TJ Carter, Memphis
• Weekend of Oct. 28: Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
• Weekend of Nov. 4: Khaleke Hudson, Michigan

Related link:
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (All-Time Winners, Finalists and Players of the Week)