Oct. 2, 2006
WACO, Texas -- Baylor sophomore free safety Dwain Crawford was named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Crawford joined offensive honoree Graham Harrell of Texas Tech and special teams honoree Ryan Baum of Iowa State as the conference's weekly award recipients.
Crawford also was named Big 12 defensive player of the week by the San Antonio Express-News.
A product of Giddings [Texas] High School, Crawford tallied five tackles, including a career-best three solo efforts, two interceptions and one other pass break up in Baylor's 17-3 victory over Kansas State. It was the first multiple-interception game of Crawford's career as he joined teammate C.J. Wilson as the only Baylor players to accomplish the feat over the past five seasons.
Crawford led a Baylor defensive unit that held a Big 12 opponent without a touchdown for the first time in 81 Big 12 games last Saturday against Kansas State. It was the lowest point total allowed by a Baylor squad against any opponent since a 24-3 victory over Arkansas State.
In his first season as the starter at free safety, Crawford has helped solidify a Baylor defense that is tied for fifth nationally with nine interceptions. Individually, Crawford is fourth in the Big 12 and tied for 47th nationally with 0.4 interceptions per game. Baylor's defense is first in the Big 12 and tied for 14th nationally with a plus-1.0 turnover margin per game. The Bears also are tied for first nationally with 16 turnovers forced.
Crawford is the first Baylor player to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season. He is the first Bear to earn the weekly defensive honor since Colin Allred was so honored following Baylor's 44-34 victory over Oklahoma State in the 2006 season finale.
Baylor returns to action Saturday, traveling to Boulder, Colo., to fact Big 12 foe Colorado. Kickoff between the Bears and the Buffaloes is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CDT at Folsom Field.
