H.B. Blades was named Defensive Player of the Week in the Big East. The leader on the defense matched his season average of 11 tackles per game and grabbed the tipped pass for an interception he returned for a touchdown.

A first-team All-Big East performer last year, Blades has continued to play at an all-star caliber level in 2005. He leads the Big East and ranks 13th nationally with an average of 11 tackles per game. His 88 total tackles are by far the most in the Big East. (The second-ranked defender, Rutgers’ Courtney Greene, has only 63 total stops.)

I’m pretty sure he’s the first Pitt player this year to take a weekly player of the week honor. Louisville’s Defensive End Elvis Dumervil has seemingly (and deservedly) had a lock on the Defensive Player of the Week honors. 19 sacks, 46 tackles and 8 fumbles forced in 7 games will get you attention.