Oct. 28, 2012

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State redshirt-freshman cornerback DeAndre Elliott has been named National Defensive Back Performer of the Week and senior punter Pete Kontodiakos earned honorable mention at his position by the College Football Performance Awards, it was announced today.

Both were recognized for their play in the Rams’ 42-27 victory over Hawaii on Saturday night at Hughes Stadium.

Elliott intercepted the first two passes of his career, and returned the second 76 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to break open a 28-27 game. That return was the longest by a Ram since Nov. 21, 2009, when Nick Oppenneer returned one 97 yards for a score at New Mexico.

Elliott, who has started four games in his first year of collegiate action, has made 25 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, and added five pass breakups.

Kontodiakos, a candidate for the Ray Guy Award who ranks fourth in the nation in punting at 47.7, averaged a career-best 61.8 yards per punt in the win over Hawaii. His four punts traveled 56, 59, 60 and 72 yards, and two were placed inside the 20-yard line. That performance was the best in the nation this year by a punter with at least three attempts in a game.

By raising his season average to 47.7, Kontodiakos is on pace to break Colorado State’s all-time single-season record of 46.1, set by Mike Deutsch in 1976. His 73-yard punt at Air Force earlier this season is tied for fourth-longest in the nation in 2012.

Colorado State travels to Wyoming next Saturday, Nov. 3, as the Rams and Cowboys meet on the field for the 104th time in the Border War.