Oct. 5, 2008

PITTSBURGH--Pitt senior middle linebacker Scott McKillop has been named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Panthers' 26-21 upset of No. 10 USF this past Thursday.

McKillop (Export, Pa./Kiski Area) collected a team-high 12 tackles - all solo -and had two quarterback sacks, three total tackles for loss and snuffed out a fake field goal against the Bulls. He played a prominent role in grounding one of the country's most powerful offenses, including its dangerously elusive quarterback Matt Grothe.

USF entered the game averaging 464 yards in total offense, but produced just 245 against Pitt. Grothe was sacked twice by McKillop for losses totaling 24 yards with both sacks coming at critical junctures.

McKillop's first sack went for a loss of 10 yards, ending a USF threat at the Pitt 43 in the third quarter and forced a punt. The second was a 14-yard sack with under four minutes to go on 3rd-and-3. USF was forced to punt and Pitt was able to burn the clock down to 22 seconds and ultimately claim the victory.

McKillop also snuffed out a fake field goal in the second quarter, stopping Gregory Grant for a one-yard gain on 4th-and-5 at the Pitt 29. The Panthers responded to McKillop's stop with a 72-yard TD drive to take a 14-7 lead.

A strong candidate for college football's most prestigious defensive honors, McKillop ranks third nationally in solo stops (7.4 solos/game), fourth in tackles for loss (tied, 1.80 TFLs/game) and 13th in total tackles (tied, 10.40 tackles/game). He leads the Big East in each of those categories.

The country's leading tackler a year ago (12.58 avg.), McKillop was a 2007 unanimous first-team All-Big East selection and was named to four All-America teams. For more information on McKillop, go to www.ScottMcKillop40.com.

On the strength of its four consecutive wins, Pitt (4-1, 2-0 Big East) surged back into the Associated Press Top 25 today, placing No. 24. (The Panthers are receiving votes in the USA Today coaches poll, placing No. 33.)

Pitt has a bye this week and will be back in action on Oct. 18 when it plays at Navy (4-2). The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m., and be nationally televised by CBS College Sports Network.

About the Award: This is the fifth consecutive year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Bowl Subdivision players 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.