Ejuan Price named ACC defensive lineman of the week

Pitt redshirt senior defensive end Ejuan Price was recognized as the ACC defensive lineman of the week for the third time in his career Monday, this time for his efforts against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Week 3.

Price continued to wreak havoc on opponents in the Panthers’ 45-38 loss to the Cowboys in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The sixth-year senior racked up six total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble, which Pitt senior linebacker Matt Galambos scooped up and took into the end zone to tie the game at 31 in the third quarter.

Price’s dominant performance Saturday continued the defensive captain’s strong start to his senior season, following up a junior year where he was named First-Team All-ACC. He finished the 2015-2016 season with 11.5 sacks and led the ACC with 0.88 sacks per game.

A native of Rankin, Pennsylvania, Price earned the defensive lineman of the week honor last season for his performances against Notre Dame and Louisville, and finished third in ACC defensive player of the year voting.

Price is in his sixth year of eligibility, granted two medical redshirts after missing the entire 2012 and 2014 seasons with pectoral and chest muscle injuries. He also suffered a season-ending back injury halfway through the 2013 season.

Now finally healthy, Price has been one of the most disruptive pass-rushers in the country since the start of 2015.

The 5-foot-11, 255-pound defensive end leads the NCAA with three forced fumbles, and his 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss are good for fourth in the nation. He also has six quarterback hurries and 11 tackles, more than halfway to his total of 19.5 tackles last season.