IRVING, TEXAS - Old Dominion University senior linebacker TJ Ricks was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
Ricks was a big reason the Monarchs tied a school record with five forced turnovers in the win over Southern Miss. Ricks had two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
On Southern Miss' fifth play of the game, Sean Carter forced a fumble that Ricks recovered and returned 23 yards to the five yard line to set up a Ray Lawry touchdown. On the first play of the next Southern Miss series, Ricks forced and recovered a fumble to set up another Monarch score.
Ricks leads the Monarchs with 81 tackles on the year, along with four tackles for loss and four pass breakups.