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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Grier Named Nagurski National Player of the Week
10/8/2002 | Football
Oct. 8, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - 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.
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.
