Parry Nickerson Named Conference, State Defensive Player of The Week
Nov 10, 2014 | Football
NEW ORLEANS - Two days after helping lead the Green Wave football team to a 31-24 league win at Houston at the new TDECU Stadium, Tulane University redshirt-freshman cornerback Parry Nickerson was named American Athletic Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week.
A native of nearby Terrytown, La., and 2013 graduate of West Jefferson High School, Nickerson earned the distinctions after tallying career highs with seven tackles (3 solo, 4 assists) and a pair of interceptions to go with half a tackle for loss against the Cougars. He becomes the second Tulane student-athlete to claim the state honor - joining sophomore linebacker Nico Marley, who earned the title back on Sept. 15 - and the first-ever member of the Green Wave gridiron gang to claim American Player of the Week recognition. Nickerson also received honorable-mention Defensive Back of the Week honors from College Football Performance Awards for his efforts at Houston.
Nickerson was one of three Tulane players to claim weekly honors as redshirt-freshman quarterback Tanner Lee and true freshman running back Dontrell Hilliard were named to the conference's Weekly Honor Roll, and Hilliard was also tabbed American Offensive Player of the Week distinction from College Sports Madness.
Nickerson, who now has a Tulane freshman-record six interceptions so far in 2014, came up big late in Saturday's win at Houston as both of his picks came in the fourth quarter. His first snare came at the Houston 47-yard line with 8:14 to play and helped set up Tulane's final points of the day as the offense responded with an 11-play, 39-yard drive which freshman kicker Andrew DiRocco capped with a 25-yard field goal.
After Houston made it a one-score game, recovered an on-sides kick and drove down to the Green Wave 5-yard line, Nickerson sealed the victory with his second interception off Houston signal-caller Greg Ward, Jr., at the goal line to spark the Tulane celebration.
In addition to leading the Green Wave in interceptions through nine games, Nickerson sits tied for second on the team with a pair of pass break-ups and seventh with 31 tackles (23 solo, 8 assists) to go with 1.5 tackles for loss. He paces the American and ranks third nationally with 0.70 interceptions per game, and sits fifth in the league with 0.89 passes defended per outing.
Hilliard earned his two weekly honors after tallying season-high totals of 192 all-purpose yards, five catches for 107 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns (1 rushing, 1 receiving) while running 25 times for 85 yards against Houston. He broke a 7-7 tie in the second quarter with a 63-yard, catch-and-run touchdown from Lee, and scored Tulane's final touchdown with a one-yard plunge with 9:22 to play in the fourth to make it 28-17.
A native of Baton Rouge and 2014 graduate of Scotlandville Magnet High School, Hilliard currently leads the Green Wave with 760 all-purpose yards, 17 kick returns and 260 kick return yards while sitting third with 69 rushing attempts, 339 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, fourth with 161 receiving yards and 339 yards of total offense, tied for fourth with a touchdown catch and 18 points scored, and seventh with 14 receptions.
Lee, meanwhile, was tabbed to the Weekly Honor Roll after tying a career-high with three touchdown passes and 24 completions while throwing for 237 yards on 35 pass attempts. His performance against the Cougars marked the third time in 2014 that the Mandeville, La., native and 2013 graduate of Jesuit High tossed three scores in a game, and his 12 touchdowns to date stands as a Tulane freshman record.
For the season, Lee has completed 118-of-212 passes (.557) for 1,356 yards - all of which lead the Green Wave - and paces the squad with 1,284 yards of total offense. In addition to holding the school's freshman mark in scoring strikes, he currently sits second among all-time Green Wave freshman in passing yards, completions and pass attempts.
Hilliard, Lee, Nickerson and the Green Wave return to action on Saturday, Nov. 15, when Tulane plays host to Memphis in a Homecoming contest at Yulman Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally live on ESPNU.
In addition to the television coverage, Saturday's contest is also available on video stream on the WatchESPN app and will be broadcast on the flagship radio station for Green Wave football - WMTI 106.1 FM "The Ticket." The radio call is available on the web at www.TulaneGreenWave.com via the All-Access Pass and live game stats will be provided for free on the official website of Tulane Athletics courtesy of GameTracker.
For tickets to that game, as well as future Green Wave events, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE (9283). The Tulane Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at the official website of Tulane Athletics - www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
