Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti was rewarded on Sunday for his big game a day earlier at Illinois.
He was named the Walter Camp Foundation national defensive player of the week after registering six tackles, two interceptions and a ½-sack in the Nittany Lions’ 35-7 win over Illinois.
Mauti returned one Nathan Scheelhaase interception 99 yards to the Illinois 1-yard line late in the first half Saturday, but Penn State didn’t capitalize as Sam Ficken had a short-field goal try blocked.
The interception return marked the longest in Penn State history, breaking the record of 98 yards set by Wayne Berfield at Boston University in 1958.
Mauti’s second pick set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Zach Zwinak in the fourth quarter.
Mauti, a 6-foot-2, 232-pound fifth-year senior, has a team-leading 48 tackles for the Nittany Lions (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten), who face Northwestern at noon Saturday in their annual Homecoming game.
West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith was national offensive player of the week after completing 45 of 51 passes for 656 yards and eight touchdowns in a 70-63 victory over Baylor.
