Two Cougars receive national acclaim for performance against Boise State

PFF college football’s advanced metrics have always been very friendly to Mike Leach’s Cougars and this week was no different as two Cougar defenders were named to their National Team of the Week. The WSU defense were definitely the reason the team was able to come back from a 21 point deficit and deserve the lion’s share of acclaim.

Peyton Pelluer (also Pac-12 defensive player of the week) and Hercules Mata’afa (the prestigious Cougcenter player of the week) were the two Cougars judged among the best at their positions in the country this week. The junior defensive lineman Mata’afa recorded 3 TFL’s and a ½ sack as well as forcing a fumble. Senior linebacker Pelluer returned an interception for a touchdown and racked up 14 tackles.

Two other Cougars made the Pac-12 team of the week on defense. Senior edge rusher Frankie Luvu and sophomore safety Jalen Thompson were both judged as two of the best in the west. Running back Jamal Morrow and offensive tackle Andre Dillard landed on the Pac-12 offensive unit. PFF also named running back James Williams as their “Mr. Elusive” for having the most missed tackles on receptions in the FBS this year.

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