Ruud Earns Big 12 Honor

Dallas, Texas ? Nebraska junior linebacker Barrett Ruud was honored Monday, as he was chosen as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for games of Oct. 18 in voting by a select panel of media covering the Big 12.

Ruud spearheaded a Husker defense that tied a school record eight turnovers in a 48-12 win over Texas A&M. He was directly involved in two of the turnoverers, a forced fumble and an interception he returned 27 yards for a touchdown for his first career interception and second touchdown of the season. Ruud finished with a team-high 10 tackles, his fourth double-figure tackle game of the season, two tackles for loss, a nine-yard sack causing a fumble and one quarterback hurry. Ruud and the Blackshirts did not allow an offensive touchdown for the second time in three weeks.

In his career, he now has 206 career tackles to tie Grant Wistrom for 22nd on the NU career list.  In Saturday’s game, Ruud also passed his father, Tom, who had 202 all-time tackles during his Nebraska career (1972-74). On the year, he has 66 tackles and three forced fumbles, while helping NU cause an NCAA-leading 29 turnovers this season.