Okoronkwo the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

NORMAN ? Oklahoma senior defensive end/outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for his efforts in a 29-24 win over Texas in the Red River Showdown on Saturday in Dallas.

Okoronkwo led the Oklahoma defense by registering five tackles, 1.0 sack for a loss of nine yards, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a career-high five quarterback hurries (three of them in the fourth quarter).

Okoronkwo's consistent presence in the Texas backfield helped OU limit the Longhorns to a 48.8 completion percentage (21 for 43). The Sooners also held UT to 3.6 yards per rush.

The 6-1, 240-pounder from Houston leads the Big 12 and is tied for eighth nationally with 6.0 sacks (1.0 per game), paces the Big 12 and is tied for second nationally with three forced fumbles, and ranks second in the league with 10.0 tackles for loss (1.7 per game). He has 19.0 career sacks to rank second at OU among linebackers and tied for 11th among all players.

Okoronkwo has recorded at least half of a sack in each of OU's six games and at least one full sack in five contests.

This is the first time Okoronkwo has been named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week in his career, and he's the first Sooner to receive the honor this year. His win also marks the fifth straight season that Oklahoma has had a player win the award.

No. 9 Oklahoma plays at Kansas State on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT in a game that will be televised by FOX.