University of Houston Athletics
Roberts Named National Defensive Player of the Week
11/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON - Houston senior linebacker Elandon Roberts has been named the AutoNation National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in Houston's comeback win over Memphis, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced Tuesday.
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The honor comes one day after Roberts was named The American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Week.
Roberts collected a career-high 18 tackles, including two for a loss and one sack, in Saturday night's win. The senior linebacker also picked off Memphis' Paxton Lynch and returned the interception seven yards to set up Houston's offense with a short field as the ensuing drive resulted in a touchdown to pull within six with 5:49 left in the game.
Houston would go on to defeat Memphis, 35-34, in a game the Houston defense held Memphis to 10 points below its scoring average. Roberts' interception was just the third this season thrown by Lynch.
Roberts leads The American with 117 tackles this season, a number that ranks fourth nationally. Roberts is third nationally with 76 solo stops on the year. The Port Arthur, Texas, native also has 12.5 tackles for loss on the year, including 3.5 sacks. He has also broken up four passes, registered six quarterback hurries and forced one fumble.
Houston returns to action this Saturday when it travels to UConn at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPNU and KPRC 950 AM with the radio pregame show hosted by Matt Thomas kicking off at 1 p.m.
Houston is one of five remaining undefeated teams across the nation and the lone unbeaten program in both the state of Texas and The American Athletic Conference. The 10-0 start is just the second of such in program history, joining the 2011 team that opened the year 12-0.
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