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OU linebacker Kip Lewis named Bednarik Player of the Week

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo10 hours agoBPrzybylo
Kip Lewis10
OU linebacker Kip Lewis. (David Leong - Imagn Images)

You win at Alabama and expect OU to get some national awards for the week. They kept coming Tuesday, with linebacker Kip Lewis being named the Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week.

Lewis registered a game-high seven tackles, a career-high 2.0 sacks and a QB hurry against the Crimson Tide. His hurry came on a first-quarter play that resulted in an interception by defensive back Eli Bowen (who was also named Jim Thorpe Player of the Week), which Bowen returned 87 yards for OU’s first touchdown of the game. 

Lewis had his first sack in the first quarter for a seven-yard loss. His second sack, which came on Alabama’s final drive, played a crucial role in closing out the game. Lewis brought down quarterback Ty Simpson for an 11-yard loss on first down

Lewis leads the Sooners with 60 total tackles this season and has 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, four QB hurries and two pass breakups. He has registered 29 tackles and 6.0 TFLs over the last four games.

Head coach Brent Venables on Kip Lewis

He’s been outstanding. It’s infectious with his passion, his energy, his toughness, his love to compete. When stuff isn’t going well, that’s when he’s been at his best. People notice when he’s celebrating a great play, but probably his best quality is who he has been when things are tight. You can’t even put a value on that. He’s won a lot of matchups, certainly he won his share a couple of nights ago. We really felt he would have an opportunity to, you know, with some of our interior pressures and the matchups with the running backs, thought that gave a chance to create a little bit of chaos in the back field and that certainly helps your group.

He’s had an outstanding year and our team really does feed off of, or energized by, both his playmaking and passion. He’s not always like that at practice, it’s not like he’s a zero by any stretch, but really proud of the player he has become and the leader he’s become this year. 

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