Calmus Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Aug. 27, 2001

NORMAN, Okla. - After an impressive effort in the Sooners' season-opening 41-27 win over North Carolina that included 13 tackles, one sack and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned 14 yards for a touchdown, Oklahoma linebacker Rocky Calmus has been named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.

The 6-3, 234-lb. native of Tulsa, Okla., was named Most Valuable Player of the Hispanic College Fund Football Classic, where he also registered two tackles-for-loss. With 44 TFLs during his career, he is already the all-time leader in the category among OU linebackers and stands in a third-place tie for the overall school record. His two fumble recoveries versus UNC were the fifth and sixth of his career, and his touchdown was the second he has scored as a Sooner.

Calmus garnered consensus All-America honors during the Sooners' run to the 2000 national title and was one of three finalists for the 2000 Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker. He has already been named to the "watch list" for this season's Butkus Award and again was recognized as an All-American by virtually every preseason college football publication. In addition, he was chosen as the conference's preseason defensive player of the year by members of the local and national media.

Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch was honored as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and Cornhuskers punter Kyle Larson won special teams recognition. Nebraska defeated TCU 21-7 in the NACDA Pigskin Classic Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Calmus Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

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