Eskridge Named C-USA Player-of-the-Week
September 08, 2008 | Football
Sept. 8, 2008
IRVING, Texas - After leading an impressive defensive showing in a 24-3 victory over No. 8 West Virginia, East Carolina junior safety Van Eskridge has been named the Conference USA Defensive Player-of-the-Week league officials announced Monday afternoon.
Eskridge recorded a game-high 10 tackles (six solos, four assists) in the win over No. 8 West Virginia. He forced his second career fumble in the second quarter, leading to ECU's second touchdown of the day. He was part of a secondary that held Heisman Candidate Pat White to 72 yards passing (11-for-18), which was the fewest passing yards allowed since Sept. 2, 2006 when ECU held Navy to just six yards passing. Eskridge anchored a defensive unit that held WVU without a TD in a contest for the first time since Oct. 25, 2001 (Miami, Fla., 45-3).
The Shelby, N.C. native is the third Pirate to receive weekly honors from C-USA this season following Patrick Pinkney (Offensive) and T.J. Lee (Special Teams) who picked up hardware on Sept. 1, 2008.
Joining Eskridge as Players-of-the-Week were James Casey (WR/Rice) and Joe Burnett (KOR/UCF).
The Pirates will be back in action this Saturday when they travel to New Orleans, La. to face Tulane in the C-USA opener for both schools. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. (EDT) in the Superdome.
