Washington State linebacker Pelluer named Pac-12 Defensive Player of Week

PULLMAN – Washington State inside linebacker Peyton Pelluer caused a major momentum swing in Saturday’s triple-overtime win over Boise State and was rewarded with Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Pelluer, a strongside linebacker from Sammamish, Washington, intercepted a shovel pass from Montell Cozart late in the fourth quarter at Martin Stadium and returned it 36 yards the other way to cut Boise State’s deficit to seven points.

The second career interception by Pelluer was the play that kept the Cougars in the game, but the senior defensive stalwart was steady throughout, making a team-high 14 tackles. Saturday was the eighth time Pelluer finished a game with double-digit tackles.

“I thought he was really aggressive the whole day,” WSU coach Mike Leach said. “He had that interception at a really key time, kind of a captivating play. But in particular, he played steady the entire day. He’d been extremely physical the whole day. … I thought Peyton honestly pounded one ball-carrier after the next. I thought he played well.”

Through two games, Pelluer, an All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection in 2016, is the Cougars’ leader with 19 tackles. Weakside linebacker Isaac Dotson and safety Jalen Thompson each have 15.

It’s the first time a WSU player has garnered the Defensive Player of the Week since Shalom Luani earned it in 2015 after a win over Oregon State.