S Nate Allen Earns National Defensive Honor

USF Senior safety Nate Allen was named the Defensive Player of the Week Sunday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation for his outstanding performance after intercepted two passes and led the team with eight tackles, including seven solo stops, during Saturday's 34-20 win over Syracuse

USF Senior safety Nate Allen was named the Defensive Player of the Week Sunday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation for his outstanding performance during Saturday's 34-20 win over Syracuse. USF moved to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in the BIG EAST.

Allen intercepted two passes led the team with eight tackles, including seven solo stops, as the Bulls picked off Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus five times and forced seven turnovers all together.

Allen's two interceptions marked the 11th time in school history a player has recorded two or more interceptions in a game, and was one off the school record of three set by current graduate assistant J.R. Reed. The Bulls tied a school record with their seven forced turnovers, set on two other occasions.

It is the second time that Allen has earned a national weekly honor. He was named the Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass in the Bulls' win at Auburn in 2007.

Allen was also named National Defensive Back of the Week by CollegeFootballPerformance.com. Wide receiver Carlton Mitchell and Jason Pierre-Paul also received honorable mention by the same website.

It is the second consecutive week that USF has raked in national honors. Last week, USF was named the Tostitos FWAA National Team of the Week, and Jason Pierre-Paul was named the Defensive Lineman of the Week by CollegeFootballPerformance.com.