Grant DePalma Named NCAA D-III National Defensive Player of the Week

TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology sophomore Grant DePalma has been named the NCAA Division III Football National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in Saturday's Homecoming win over Manchester.

NCAA.com declared DePalma as the National Player of the Week after his performance that included 20 tackles and 18 solo efforts.  He became just the fifth player in Rose-Hulman history to compile 20 tackles in a game and also recorded four sacks and six tackles-for-loss. 

DePalma's total of 20 tackles ranks as the third most in an NCAA Division III football game this season.  His four sacks ranks second on the season's national single game list, and his 18 solo tackles are the most in any NCAA Division III game this season. 

The civil engineering major narrowly missed Rose-Hulman's single-game school records of 4.5 sacks and 22 tackles in the performance.  He currently leads the HCAC with 30 solo tackles and stands as the conference leader with 4.5 sacks. 

With the score 28-26 in the game's final two minutes, DePalma and the Fightin' Engineer stopped a Manchester two-point play that could have forced overtime. 

Rose-Hulman improved to 2-0 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play and 2-2 on the season.  The Fightin' Engineers travel to Hanover College on Saturday.