Blitz Points: All Defense, No Offense Among College Football Top Performers Week 12

Nov 15, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Nick Perry (27) tackles Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Jameon Lewis (4) in the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Perry, Safety, Alabama Crimson Tide (Defeated Mississippi State Bulldogs 25-20)

12 Tackles, 1 Interception

There’s absolutely no way we could avoid putting an Alabama player on this list after they beat the No. 1 team in the country. But finding who to put up there was very difficult.

The Tide had a complete win, with good enough play from Blake Sims, great play from Amari Cooper, and an incredible playmaking defense. Everybody stepped up, so we would like to give a Blitz Points Award to the entire team.

But we can’t.

So sticking with what we can do, Nick Perry is the guy who gets the respect.

The senior safety had 9 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles against the No. 1 Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday and that vaunted spread offense and former Heisman Trophy frontrunner. But he also came through in a crucial moment.

With the Tide up 5-0 early in the second quarter, Perry snagged the first of three Dak Prescott interceptions in Alabama territory on a third down play. That kept all the momentum on Alabama’s side, which helped to break the game wide open later in the quarter as the Tide then held off the Bulldogs the rest of the game.

Alabama’s win over Mississippi State was a defensive effort. The credit for that defense lies with Perry.