Landor Named Jim Thorpe DB of Week
10/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 21, 2010
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Baylor senior safety Byron Landor was named the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week for his performance in the Bears' 31-25 win over Colorado, it was announced Thursday. The honor, awarded to the nation's top defensive back of the week, comes just three days after Landor was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.
Landor forced two turnovers and tallied seven tackles, five of which were solo stops, in Baylor's victory in Boulder, Colo. With the win, the Bears (5-2, 2-1 Big 12) moved to within one game of becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 1995.
With Colorado moving downfield on the opening drive of the game, Landor grabbed a Tyler Hansen pass out of the air at the Baylor 22-yard line for the first interception of his career. Landor returned the pick 32 yards into Colorado territory.
In the third quarter, Colorado running back Will Jefferson broke free and went 23 yards before Landor stripped the ball just shy of the goal-line. Had Jefferson scored, the Buffaloes would've taken a two possession lead. Instead, Baylor's Antonio Johnson recovered the fumble in the end zone, and the Bears marched 80 yards down the field for a touchdown that put Baylor on top for good.
Each week, Phil Steele of the Jim Thorpe Association selects the Thorpe weekly winner. Jim Noel (Boston College), Shaquille Richardson (Arizona), Keith Tandy (West Virginia), Vaughn Telemaque (Miami), Robert Nelson (ULM) and Deone Bucannon (Washington State) garnered honorable mention honors for the week.
Baylor returns to action Saturday at 2:30 p.m CDT when the Bears host Kansas State (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) in Baylor's 78th Homecoming Game. For tickets, call the Baylor Athletics Ticket Office at 254-710-1000 or visit www.BaylorBears.com.
