GoldandBlack.com: Kerrigan dominating

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (GoldandBlack.com) - It turns out quarterback Joey Elliott wasn't the only player to get a text message from a well-known former Boilermaker.

Add defensive end Ryan Kerrigan to the list.

"I got a bunch of text messages (after beating No. 7 Ohio State)," Kerrigan said, "but I had Rosevelt Colvin send me a text message saying congratulations on the big win. That was really special.

"He worked out with us D-linemen in the summer and showed us pass-rushing technique. It was great to hear from somebody like him."

Since Kerrigan made nine tackles, four tackles for a loss and three sacks and forced a pair of fumbles, recovering one, in Purdue's 26-18 win over No. 7 Ohio State, awards have been rolling in for the junior from Muncie.

On Tuesday, it was announced Kerrigan was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player-of-the-Week. Along with the honor, Kerrigan will be added to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Award, given annually to the nation's best defensive player.

Earlier in the week, Kerrigan was named Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Week and Walter Camp National Defensive Player-of-the-Week.

"I'm taking it in stride," Kerrigan said. "It's really a team award, because it reflects the great game we had as a team and the big upset as a team. I realize it's more of a team award."

True, there were several outstanding efforts on the team. Kerrigan's performance, though, was the best.

"It was a pretty incredible performance," linebacker Chris Carlino said. "(The linebackers) were watching film and at one point, we get graded out and he actually had a 24-point play, which is almost a full game's worth of points for a linebacker, and he did it in one play. That was pretty amazing."

Kerrigan's 24-point play occurred when he sacked Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, forcing and recovering a fumble on the play.

"I told him in the locker room during the week that he had a breakout game against these guys last year and I had a feeling it was going to happen again," Elliott said.

Kerrigan seems to save his best for the premier programs in the nation.

Last season he had a breakout game in a loss at Ohio State, compiling six tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks. In Purdue's win over Michigan last year, he had 10 tackles, three-and-a-half tackles for a loss and three sacks.

"I don't know what it is specifically," Kerrigan said. "I just know against big-time teams I need to have big-time games. Knowing that gives me a little extra juice when I'm out there playing."

Kerrigan didn't get too excited about his effort at Ohio State last season.

"You could say it's my best game, but I'd like to say my best game came in a win," Kerrigan told Gold & Black Illustrated after last year's game.

Well, is it safe to call Kerrigan's game against Ohio State last week his best to date?

"Certainly," Kerrigan said. "We beat No. 7 Ohio State at home, so I'd like to say it was my best game because it was our team's best game. We won and a whole new season has started now."

Kerrigan's performances have been getting better by the week, compiling at least seven tackles in each of the last four games. He had six tackles and two sacks against Minnesota, which followed eight tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup against Northwestern.

"He's getting better and better as the competition rises," Coach Danny Hope said. "He's not a finished product yet, because he's getting better."

It's not just Kerrigan's stats that are increasing in recent weeks.

"He didn't come out of the game (against Ohio State)," Hope said. "I believe he maybe did that two Saturdays prior to that. It's a credit to him because he practices himself into shape and goes hard to get into game shape."

Kerrigan's seven sacks this season lead all Big Ten players and rank 14th nationally. His 11-and-a-half tackles for a loss rank fifth in the Big Ten and 18th nationally.

"He has the ability to beat you with power and athleticism," Hope said. "You don't see many players that can do that."

Kerrigan did have seven tackles against Toledo in the season-opening game, but didn't record a sack until the third game of the year.

"It was a lot slower than I'd like to," Kerrigan said. "Like Coach Hope said, you want to start fast and finish strong. I would have liked to played better in a couple of the earlier games, especially Northern Illinois and Oregon, but those games are in the past and I have to focus on the future, which is Illinois right now."