Tuli Tuipulotu Named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Standout USC defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after another impressive showing.
Tuipulotu recorded 2.5 sacks, one pass deflection and a game-changing forced fumble to help USC cruise to a 55-17 win against Colorado on Friday night.
The junior leads the nation in sacks with 11.5. He will have several more opportunities to eclipse the 16.5-sack mark posted by Kenechi Udeze in 2003, which USC holds as its single-season record. Tuipulotu’s 2.5 tackles for loss gives him now 17.5 this season. He ranks third in FBS in total tackles for loss. And he’s second in the nation (first in the Pac-12) in tackles for loss per game.
Tuipulotu is the first Pac-12 player to win Defensive Player of the Week award twice this season. And he’s the first USC player to do it twice in a season since former linebacker Rey Maualuga did so in 2008. In addition, Tuipulotu has been named Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week three times this season. Though, somehow he didn’t win it this week while taking home the overall defensive player recognition.
He’s the second USC player to be awarded Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week this season. Safety Bryson Shaw won the award following his performance against Arizona.
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Next Challenge Ahead for Tuipulotu and the Trojans
Perhaps the most difficult challenge of the season awaits Tuipulotu and the USC defense this week. UCLA and the powerful one-two punch of quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and running back Zach Charbonnet await USC at the Rose Bowl on Saturday evening.
The Bruins have allowed just 14 sacks this season. And Charbonnet has lost just eight total yards on 152 attempts. He’s averaging 7.5 yards per carry, for 1,145 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
UCLA is averaging 39.5 points per game this season. The USC defense will need to be sharp in order to prevent the Bruins from keeping up in what looks to be a potential rivalry shootout.
