Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners congratulates defensive lineman R Mason Thomas #32 after forcing a three-and out against the Temple Owls in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on August 30, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. Photo: Brian Bahr / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
University of Oklahoma junior defensive lineman R Mason Thomas was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after his career performance in OU’s 34-19 win over Tulane on Saturday, the Football Writers Association of America announced Tuesday.
Thomas, who served as a game captain and made his third career start against Tulane, registered a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss, all of them fourth-quarter sacks with the Sooners trying to preserve their lead. He also forced a fumble that he recovered and added a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
In one fourth-quarter series, Thomas recorded a sack on first down, a pass breakup on third down and another sack on fourth down. The forced fumble and recovery were the first of his career. He entered the game with 2.5 career sacks and 4.5 TFLs.
Thomas, a product of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., became the first Sooner with three sacks in a game since Nik Bonitto in 2020. Only one player nationally has recorded more sacks in a game this season, and Thomas’ three sacks Saturday tied for an SEC high on the year.
Thomas' performance was key to OU holding a Tulane offense that racked up 491 yards the previous week against Kansas State to just 279 total yards Saturday (4.2 per play). The OU defense held Tulane to 116 yards and 3.7 yards per play in the second half, when it registered all seven of its tackles for loss and its three sacks (all by Thomas).
No. 15/13 Oklahoma (3-0) plays its first-ever SEC contest on Saturday against No. 6/7 Tennessee (3-0) at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on ABC.
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner will be chosen from the finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.