McLeod is Named National Defensive Back of the Week

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia senior strong safety Rodney McLeod was named College Football Performance Awards’ (CFPA) National Defensive Back of the Week. In front of his hometown crowd on Saturday, the Oxon Hill, Md., native had three interceptions and a team-best seven tackles in UVa’s 31-13 ACC triumph at Maryland. McLeod is one of four players in the nation to record three INTs in a game in 2011, the most by any player this season.

McLeod’s three INTs tie a program record with six others and he becomes the first Cavalier to accomplish the feat since Anthony Poindexter did so in 1996 against NC State. Two of McLeod’s INTs were on fourth down plays in the fourth quarter as Maryland tried to make up ground on UVa. His first INT of the game set up UVa’s second TD drive of the third quarter, pushing the Cavaliers’ lead to 15 points, 28-13.