Tulsa's Marco Nelson Honored by Walter Camp Foundation
11/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 14, 2010
New Haven, Conn. - University of Tulsa true freshman safety Marco Nelson was selected as the Walter Camp Foundation Defensive Player of the Week for his three interception performance against Houston on Saturday, it was announced on Sunday.
In a 28-25 victory at Houston, Tulsa kept its hopes alive for a Conference USA West Division title as the Hurricane held off a Houston rally in which Tulsa built a 28-10 lead.
Nelson (Glenpool, Oklahoma), starting his ninth game for the Hurricane as a true freshman totaled seven tackles, including six solos and tied a single-game school record with three interceptions.
Each of the interceptions were deep in Tulsa territory, thus preventing the Cougars from scoring. In the first quarter, Nelson had the first of his three interceptions on Houston's initial offensive possession. After Tulsa took an early 7-0 lead, Houston had gone to the Tulsa 12-yard line and Nelson intercepted a pass in the end zone off a batted pass by teammate Charles Davis. Nelson downed it for a touchback. On Houston's second possession, the Cougars were again driving in Tulsa territory when Nelson intercepted his second pass at the Tulsa 15-yard line.
Tulsa got out of the first quarter with a 7-0 lead and built a 21-7 lead at halftime.
After Houston clawed to within three points, 28-25, the Cougars were driving to take the lead and the potential victory. His third interception came with 5:43 remaining in the game when Nelson picked off a Houston pass at the Tulsa-21 yard line and returned it seven yards. The Tulsa offense proceeded to run-out the final 5:39 on the game clock to preserve the three-point victory on the road.
Tulsa improved to 7-3 and 4-2 in league action, while Houston dropped to 5-5 and 4-3 in C-USA. Tulsa returns home for two games to close out the regular season. The Hurricane will host UTEP on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 1 pm, and finish the regular season against Southern Miss on Friday, Nov. 26 at 5:30 pm.
This is the seventh year that the Walter Camp Foundation honors one offensive and one defensive player as its national Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Walter Camp, "The Father of American Football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. The Walter Camp Football Foundation was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting an All-America team.
