Laybourn Pac-10 Defensive Player of Week

OREGON STATE starting safety Greg Laybourn was named the Defensive Pac-10 Player of the Week on Monday. It is his second such honor this season. Not bad for a guy who originally walked on to the OSU football program.

Greg Laybourn, a senior from Portland and former walk-on, racked up a game-high 12 tackles including a career-best 10 solo stops in Oregon State's 34-13 road win at Washington.

Laybourn is the Pac-10's leading tackler, averaging 8.86 per game.

The award marks the second time this season Laybourn has been recognized by the Pac-10 this season. He also earned defensive player of the week honors following Oregon State’s upset of then-No. 1 USC.

Laybourn began his college career at Northern Arizona, playing one year for the Lumberjacks. He came to Oregon State as a baseball player on partial scholarship and played outfield for the Beavs as a platoon player in 2005-06.

In the spring session before the '06 football season, he decided to walk-on and because of the near impossible demands of trying to play two sports at the college level, has placed his focus out on the gridiron ever since. He eventually earned a full scholie.

Laybourn was the Beavs' sixth leading tackler last year despite starting only two games on a veteran-laden defense.

NOTABLE NOTE:
James Rodgers was also nominated for offensive player of the week, with the award there going to Keola Antolin of Arizona who rushed for 149 yards and logged 237 all-purpose hashes.