NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt’s Nick Rinaldi was named on Tuesday the Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week, making it the second straight week he has earned recognition.
The senior from Dover, Massachusetts, was selected the SEC Defensive Player of the Week following the Commodores’ Week 2 defeat of Virginia Tech as well.
In Vandy’s 31-7 victory at No. 11/10 South Carolina on Saturday night, Rinaldi was credited with a season-high seven tackles which included matching a career best with 2½ stops for loss highlighted by a sack. With the Commodores protecting a two-score lead in the third quarter, Rinaldi recorded a tackle on third down shy of the line to make then combined for a stop behind the line of scrimmage on the ensuing 4th-and-1 to end a Gamecock drive in Vanderbilt territory.
He was part of a unit that held South Carolina to only 86 rushing yards on the night and kept the opposition off the scoreboard in the second half for the second time in as many outings as the Dores began SEC play with a victory for the time since the 2011 campaign.
To be eligible for Burlsworth Trophy recognition, a player must have begun his NCAA FBS college football career as a walk-on.
Rinaldi and No. 20/23 Vandy are next in action when Georgia State visits FirstBank Stadium Saturday at 6:30 p.m., with the contest scheduled to be broadcast on ESPNU.
