THE DEION SANDERS AWARD
Pick Six Previews' Weekly Award for the Best Interception Return for TD (PICK SIX)
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The Interception Return for Touchdown (PICK SIX) is not just the Greatest Play in All of Sport, but also the namesake of our Website. Each week we will honor the best PICK SIXES of the College Football weekend, complete with a winner. Our weekly award is named after the Pick Six Legend himself - Deion "Primetime" Sanders.
As College Football Saturdays unfold, and you see a Pick Six, tweet us @PickSixPreviews with the hashtag #PickSixNation 
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- BOWL SEASON -
Bowl Season gave us another exciting slate of 35 matchups, capped off with 5 incredible BCS games in the system's final chapter. There were 8 PICK SIXES over the course of bowl season; Oregon started and ended Mack Brown's final game at Texas with Pick Sixes in the blowout win in the Alamo Bowl. This is the final weekly installment of our Deion Award, which means its time to crown a 2013 Season Winner - 4 Deion Award Finalists will be released soon.
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Bowl Season PICK SIXES:
Derron Smith, Fresno State Corey Trim, UL-Lafayette Avery Patterson, Oregon Derrick Malone, Oregon William Parks, Arizona Myles Jack, UCLA Toney Hurd Jr., Texas A&M Kevin Anderson, Stanford 2013 Season Leaders: Damante Horton, Washington St (3) Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) Khalil Mack, Buffalo (2) Lorenzo Doss, Tulane (2) DeVon Edwards, Duke (2) Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State (2) Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State (2) Bobby McCain, Memphis (2) Travis Carrie, Ohio (2) |
BOWL SEASON WINNER: TONEY HURD JR., TEXAS A&M
Trailing big at halftime, Johnny Football led a furious comeback, but the Aggies still trailed by 3 in the final minutes. With Duke driving (and running the clock down), aTm needed an impact play from their defense - they got just that when Hurd Jr. jumped the route and housed a PICK SIX for the winning score.
Runner-Up: Myles Jack, UCLA
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- WEEK 14 -
There were only 9 PICK SIXES during Rivalry Week... yet all 9 combined cannot even approach the significance of the RETURN-SIX down in Auburn. On the Iron Bowl's final play, Chris Davis of Auburn returned a missed 57-yard FG for a 108-yard winning Touchdown. That single play keeps Auburn alive in the National Championship discussion and cost a lot for their Crimson nemesis: the game itself, the SEC title, a Heisman Trophy, and a 3rd Consecutive BCS National Championship. I don't recall another play that could say the same.
This week the Deion Award hero is clearly Ohio's Travis Carrie who housed TWO passes Saturday. Also a shoutout to Baylor, who had a PICK SIX to close the first half AND open the second.
This week the Deion Award hero is clearly Ohio's Travis Carrie who housed TWO passes Saturday. Also a shoutout to Baylor, who had a PICK SIX to close the first half AND open the second.
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WEEK 14 PICK-SIXES: Gary Thompson, Marshall Travis Carrie, Ohio (2) Avery Cunningham, Central Michigan Justin Jackson, Wake Forest Orion Stewart, Baylor Eddie Lackey, Baylor Adairius Barnes, Louisiana Tech Damarious Randall, Arizona State 2013 Season Leaders: Damante Horton, Washington St (3) Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) Khalil Mack, Buffalo (2) Lorenzo Doss, Tulane (2) DeVon Edwards, Duke (2) Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State (2) Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State (2) Bobby McCain, Memphis (2) Travis Carrie, Ohio (2) |
WEEK 14 WINNER: TRAVIS CARRIE, OHIO
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- WEEK 13 -
There were 16 Pick Sixes in Division 1 this week, the second highest total this season. Three teams housed multiple passes: Florida State, Washington State, and Middle Tennessee State. Entering the week, there were 11 players with two Pick Sixes; Damante Horton of Washington State became the first player this season to enter the '3 Pick Six' category. For this, Horton earns a Honorable Mention, but our Week 13 Winner comes from the SUN DEVILS:
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WEEK 13 PICK-SIXES: Brennen Beyer, Michigan Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma Tracy Howard, Miami FL Tony Annese, Central Michigan Sean Kurtz, Bowling Green Telvin Smith, Florida State E.J. Levenberry, Florida State Aaron Hill, Minnesota Damante Horton, Washington State Casey Locker, Washington State T.T. Barber, Middle Tennessee State Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee State Carl Bradford, Arizona State Yawin Smallwood, Connecticut J.J. Whitaker, San Diego State Shaq Thomas, Washington 2013 Season Leaders: Damante Horton, Washington St (3) Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) Khalil Mack, Buffalo (2) Lorenzo Doss, Tulane (2) DeVon Edwards, Duke (2) Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State (2) Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State (2) Bobby McCain, Memphis (2) |
WEEK 13 WINNER: CARL BRADFORD, ARIZONA STATE
The Sun Devils needed this road win to clinch the Pac-12 South Division Title. With a 14-10 lead, this interception off of Brett Hundley gave Arizona State control of the game, and a lead it would not relinquish. As we predicted in July, THE DEVILS win the division, and Carl Bradford earns our weekly Deion Sanders Award:
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- WEEK 12 -
This week there were 10 Pick Sixes in Division 1. Two players joined the 2013 Season Leaderboard, with their 2nd Pick Six on the season (Justin Gilbert, and Bobby McCain). With just 3 weeks left, will any of the 12 multi-PickSix players emerge from the pack with a rare THIRD Pick Six? For now, here is our Week 12 Deion Award Winner.
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WEEK 12 PICK-SIXES:
Joe Windsor, Northern Illinois Bradley Roby, Ohio State Tony Annese, Central Michigan Christian Milstead, FAU Kyle Tudor, East Carolina Bronson Kaufusi, BYU Stephon Sanders, SMU Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State Bobby McCain, Memphis Robert Nelson, Arizona State 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) Khalil Mack, Buffalo (2) Lorenzo Doss, Tulane (2) DeVon Edwards, Duke (2) Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State (2) Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State (2) Bobby McCain, Memphis (2) |
WEEK 12 WINNER: BRADLEY ROBY, OHIO STATE
"Bradley Roby, THEE Ohio State University" .. get used to this Sunday Night Football intro, as Roby will be the next NFL star from Defensive Back U. Roby has elite speed and has been a game changer throughout his career in scarlet and gray. As Ohio State awaits a loss at the top, it must keep winning impressively; thanks to this 'Tip Drill' PICK SIX, the Buckeyes raced to a 60-35 destruction of Illinois:
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- WEEK 11 -
This week there were 11 Pick Sixes in Division 1. DeVon Edwards (Duke) housed two NC State passes, on consecutive drives. Edwards joins Northwestern's Collin Ellis as the only two players to record multiple Pick Sixes in the same game. Edwards and Ty Zimmerman join the select group of players (10) with more than one Pick Six on the season (below)
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WEEK 11 PICK-SIXES: Camren Hudson, Troy Terell Floyd, Louisville Nate Andrews, Florida State Jacques Smith, Tennessee Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State Dominique Green, North Carolina DaShaun Amos, East Carolina DeVon Edwards, Duke (2) Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee State Tre Watson, Washington 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) Khalil Mack, Buffalo (2) Lorenzo Doss, Tulane (2) DeVon Edwards, Duke (2) Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State (2) |
WEEK 11 WINNER: DeVON EDWARDS, DUKE
Duke's DeVon Edwards, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, picks off consecutive passes and houses both. Easily one of the best individual performances of the season, and an instant #PickSix Legend. The returns themselves were unbelievable, and both could have individually won a Deion Award:
VIDEO: Both Pick Sixes follow the rushing TD: |
- WEEK 10 -
There were 9 Pick Sixes in Division 1 in Week 10. Lorenzo Doss of Tulane became the 8th player with multiple Pick Sixes this season. This week we have our first-ever tie, as Kevin Pierre-Louis (Boston College) and Avery Moss (Nebraska) both share the Week 10 Deion Sanders Award:
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WEEK 10 PICK-SIXES: Ryan Murphy, Oregon State Kevin Pierre-Louis, Boston College Doran Grant, Ohio State Stephen Roberts, Middle Tenn. State Avery Moss, Nebraska Triston Wade, UT-San Antonio Kyler Fackrell, Utah State Lorenzo Doss, Tulane Pete Robertson, Texas Tech 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) Khalil Mack, Buffalo (2) Lorenzo Doss, Tulane (2) |
WEEK 10 WINNER: KEVIN PIERRE-LOUIS, BOSTON COLLEGE
With the game tied at 20, the blitz put Thomas under pressure, and Kevin Pierre-Louis housed the mistake. This play put Boston College in the lead for good, capturing the momentum and earning Coach Addazio his first trademark victory at the Heights. Thanks to KPL's PICK SIX, Boston College finds itself in a great spot to return to the postseason for the first time since 2010.
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- WEEK 9 -
The season low was reset this week again, as there were just 5 Pick Sixes in Division 1 Football. Coming into the Week, we expected to see Penn State (Pick Six U) throw yet another Pick Six to Ohio State, but the tradition was not continued.
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WEEK 9 PICK-SIXES: Charles Gaines, Louisville Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State Howard Matthews, Texas A&M Landon Collins, Alabama Justin Iwuji, Texas State 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) Khalil Mack, Buffalo (2) |
WEEK 9 WINNER: LANDON COLLINS, ALABAMA
Collins, well-known by his Signing Day moment and disapproving mom, housed this Tennessee pass to extend the lead to 35-0 at half. This rivalry is as hate-filled as any, and this PICK SIX grounded the Vols, who were fresh off an upset over #14 South Carolina:
Collins, a Sophomore, was selected as a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist today |
- WEEK 8 -
There were just 8 Pick Sixes this week, tying the season low. Khalil Mack of Buffalo had his 2nd INT-TD of the season, joining the other top 6 nationally.
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WEEK 8 PICK-SIXES: Al Riles, UL Lafayette James Manuel, Minnesota Shaq Wiggins, Georgia Derrick Mathews, Houston Khalil Mack, Buffalo Zac Whitfield, North Texas Marquis Flowers, Arizona Terrance Mitchell, Oregon 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) Khalil Mack, Buffalo (2) |
WEEK 8 WINNER: SHAQ WIGGINS, GEORGIA
Georgia was absolutely robbed Saturday. On a 4th down crossing pass (Vanderbilt down 10 points), a late flag was thrown for 'targeting,' as LB Ramik Wilson hit the Vanderbilt receiver with his SHOULDER, knocking the ball loose. Following that game-changing call, the faction of Bulldog fans in the stadium booed for 6 straight plays. Despite Vanderbilt finishing off this upset win, we award Shaq Wiggins with the Week 8 Deion Sanders Award - Wiggins jumped this attempted trick play and took it to the house:
Fast Forward to 35 seconds in:
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- WEEK 7 -
Just 8 Players had Pick-Sixes this week, setting the new low after last weeks 10 INT-TD's. Isaiah Newsome of UL-Monroe housed his second on the year, joining 5 other players with multiple Pick Sixes. There were 2 Pick Sixes in the Red River Rivalry - both by Defensive Linemen - and one of which wins our Deion Award for Week 7:
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WEEK 7 PICK-SIXES: Chris Whaley, Texas Geneo Grissom, Oklahoma JaCorey Shepherd, Kansas Derrick Strozier, Tulane Lairamie Lee, North Texas Alani Fua, BYU Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe Nevin Lawson, Utah State 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) Isaiah Newsome, UL-Monroe (2) |
WEEK 7 WINNER: CHRIS WHALEY, TEXAS
It was a rough start to the 2013 Texas Football season: a 3-2 start, the firing of Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz, and talks of Mack Brown's tenure coming to a halt. No one outside of Austin believed the Longhorns could win this one, and even those Burnt Orange fans never saw this blowout coming. It was this PICK SIX by Defensive Tackle Chris Whaley that captured the momentum for the Longhorns...your Week 7 Deion Sanders Award Winner:
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- WEEK 6 -
Just 10 players had Pick-Sixes in Week 6, the lowest weekly total yet. Arizona State and Notre Dame each had 4th quarter Pick-Sixes in their Cowboys Stadium thriller.
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WEEK 6 PICK-SIXES: Keith McGill, Utah Kyle Van Noy, BYU Blake Countess, Michigan Ladarius Gunter, Miami FL Lorenzo Doss, Tulane Robenson Therezie, Auburn Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida Osahon Irabor, Arizona State Dan Fox, Notre Dame Darwin Cook, West Virginia 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) |
WEEK 6 WINNER: KYLE VAN NOY, BYU
A Pick-Six legend from last bowl season, Kyle Van Noy (KVN) picked off Utah State Chuckie Keeton on the first play from scrimmage - and took it to the house. This set the tone in BYU's rivalry win over USU, and helped secure the Old Wagon Wheel (rivalry trophy). KVN is back: This time as your Week 6 Deion Award Winner
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- WEEK 5 -
14 Division 1 Players had a Pick-Six this weekend. Stanford housed 2 Washington State passes - both in the second quarter. Thanks for all of the twitter interaction this week - keep tweeting us for every Pick Six and your nominees for the Deion Award!
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WEEK 5 PICK-SIXES: Julius Forte, USF Ishmael Banks, West Virginia Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois Sam Carter, TCU Corey Nelson, Oklahoma P.J. Williams, Florida State D.J. Green, NC State Najja Johnson, Buffalo William Jackson, Houston Deshazor Everett, Texas A&M Jordan Richards, Stanford Trent Murphy, Stanford Alden Darby, Arizona State L.J. Jones, Fresno State 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) |
WEEK 5 WINNER: ALDEN DARBY, ARIZONA STATE
For those that stayed up for the second half, you witnessed an entertaining and historic ending in Tempe. With the game still close here, early in the 3rd, Alden Darby jumped the wheel route and took it all the way back. This was the 2nd of 4 3rd quarter ASU touchdowns, a quarter that USC AD Pat Hayden cited as the breaking point for Coach Lane Kiffin. This play by Darby won the game, positioned ASU well in the Pac 12 South, and essentially ended Kiffin's tenure in Los Angeles:
Video Courtesy: @JediASU, #PickSixNation Member
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P.J. Williams, Florida State
Thanks @Kzovko for submitting
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Trent Murphy, Stanford (start at 0:58)
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- WEEK 4 -
14 Division Players had a Pick-Six this weekend, with two teams housing multiple Pick-Sixes: Northwestern and Baylor. B.J. Lowery recorded his second of the season, joining 4 others atop the season standings.
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WEEK 4 PICK-SIXES: B.J. Lowery, Iowa Anthony Gonzalez, Pittsburgh Randy Gregory, Nebraska Devaun Swafford, Tennessee Damien Proby, Northwestern Dean Lowry, Northwestern A.J. Hendy, Maryland Tevin Mitchel, Arkansas Joe Williams, Baylor Terrell Burt, Baylor Telvin Smith, Florida State Steven Nelson, Oregon State Jamerson Love, Mississippi State Kony Ealy, Missouri 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) B.J. Lowery, Iowa (2) |
WEEK 4 WINNER - STEVEN NELSON, OREGON STATE
Having already lost to Division 1-AA Eastern Washington, Oregon State again found themselves on the ropes against an inferior opponent. San Diego State led 27-14 heading into the 4th quarter, and also led 30-28 here with 2 minutes remaining. Nelson's game-winner wins our weekly Deion Sanders Award:
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- WEEK 3 -
12 Division 1 Players had a Pick Six this week. Wyoming was the only team with more than one, while Damante Horton (Washington State) and Vinnie Sunseri (Alabama) each recorded their second Pick Six on the season.
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WEEK 3 PICK-SIXES: Dexter McDougle, Maryland Justin March, Akron Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama Jordan Stanton, Wyoming Cortland Fort, Wyoming Damante Horton, Washington State D'Joun Smith, FAU Justin Anderson, UL-Lafayette Kip Daily, Kansas State Michael Kutzler, Rice Bennett Jackson, Notre Dame Sean Martin, Oregon State 2013 Season Leaders: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama (2) Damante Horton, Washington St (2) Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona (2) |
WEEK 3 WINNER - VINNIE SUNSERI, ALABAMA
In "The Sequel," Alabama erased a 14 point deficit by scoring 35 unanswered. While Johnny Manziel dazzled at times, his two interceptions thrown were most memorable, as the turnovers made the difference here. It was Vinnie Sunseri who stole the show here with an incredible Pick-Six putting Alabama ahead by three scores, a clear winner of the Week 3 Deion Sanders Award:
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- WEEK 2 -
23 Division 1 Players had a Pick Six this week, with 5 teams taking TWO back to the house: Nebraska, Clemson, Tennessee, Arizona, and Colorado. Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona, joins Collin Ellis atop the year standings with 2 INT-TDs on the season.
Here is the list of Pick Sixes for Week 2, and our weekly Deion Award Winner:
Here is the list of Pick Sixes for Week 2, and our weekly Deion Award Winner:
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Week 2 Pick Sixes: Greg Henderson, Colorado Jered Bell, Colorado Jake Fischer, Arizona Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona Damante Horton, Washington State Julian Gener, Hawaii Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Nebraska Ciante Evans, Nebraska Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame Martin Jenkins, Clemson Darius Robinson, Clemson Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State Nate Askew, Texas A&M Detrick Bonner, Virginia Tech Markus Golden, Missouri Justin Coleman, Tennessee Cameron Sutton, Tennessee Eli Canton, Troy Jovon Johnson, Ohio Monterius Lovett, Marshall Bobby McClain, Memphis Bryan Douglas, Boise State |
WEEK 2 WINNER - STEPHON TUITT, NOTRE DAME
Trailing by 14 in the 4th, Defensive Tackle Stephon Tuitt gave Notre Dame some life. In one of the more bizarre "Pick Sixes" in recent memory, Michigan QB Devin Gardner was pressured in the endzone and blindly tossed the ball up, into the diving hands of DT Tuitt for the instant Pick Six. Although the Wolverines held on for the win, this was a special play on the national stage, and our weekly Deion Award winner:
WEEK 2 Runner-up: Damante Horton, Washington State
Washington State shocked the college football world late Saturday night / early Sunday morning. The Cougar defense completely shut down the #24 USC offensive attack. in the 10-7 upset win, this was the winning Cougars' only Touchdown:
Honorable Mention: Justin Coleman and Cameron Sutton, who housed 2 passes, on consecutive snaps, in Tennessee's rout of WKU. These two pick sixes were a part of a 6 play, 5 turnover sequence for the Vol Defense.
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- WEEK 1 -
13 Division 1 Players returned an Interception for a Touchdown in their season-opening game, including one Linebacker scoring TWO HIMSELF. Georgia Tech's defense had TWO Pick Six's in their 70-0 destruction of Elon. Without further adeiu, here are the 13 Players with a Week 1 Pick Six, folllowed by the First Weekly Deion Award:
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Week 1 Pick Sixes: Collin Ellis, Northwestern (2) Chris McAllister, Baylor Jairus Jones, Michigan State Khalil Mack, Buffalo Adrian Witty, Cincinnati Tyler Marcordes, Georgia Tech Chris Milton, Georgia Tech Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama Tra'Mayne Boundurant, Arizona Brandon Chubb, Wake Forest Raheem Waiters, Marshall Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Minnesota Josh Shaw, USC |
WEEK 1 WINNER - COLLIN ELLIS, NORTHWESTERN
In this BigTen - Pac12 season opener, it was Northwestern's Collin Ellis who took back the lead, and later sealed the win with his TWO Pick Sixes:
Fast-Forward to 1:35 and 2:43 for his Pick-Six's
WEEK 1 RUNNER UP: VINNIE SUNSERI, ALABAMA
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