Jordan Ridley Named PFL Defensive Player of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler linebacker Jordan Ridley, who recorded a career-high 19 tackles at Campbell, has been named Pioneer Football League Co-Defensive Player of the Week.  The Butler junior shared the league honor with defensive end Blake Oliaro of San Diego, who had four quarterback sacks and a pass interception at Valparaiso.

Ridley, who leads the PFL in tackles (13.0/gm), put on one of the top individual defensive performances in the PFL this season in Butler’s 38-23 road loss at Campbell.  He shared the team lead with five solo tackles and added a career-high 14 assists in the game.  He had one quarterback sack and one-and-a-half tackles for loss against the Camels, and he recorded a forced fumble, which the Bulldogs recovered.

The 19 total tackles were the most by a PFL player this season and the fifth-highest total in the NCAA Division I FCS in 2011.  Ridley’s 14 assists were the most by a Butler player since 1997, when Joe Miles recorded 16 assists against Dayton.

Ridley, who topped the PFL in tackles a year ago, has been Butler’s leading tackler in five of six contests this year, and in 16 of the Bulldogs’ past 17 games.  He had at least 10 tackles in four of six games this season and in 13 games during his Butler career.

Butler, coming off a stretch of four road contests in five weeks, returns home for its next three PFL games.  The Bulldogs will begin that stretch with the “Hoosier Helmet Trophy” game against Valparaiso on Saturday, Oct. 15.  That rivalry contest at the Butler Bowl will start at 1 p.m. (ET).