PULLMAN, Wash. –Washington State junior safety Shalom Luani was named the Jim Thorpe Player of the Week, the Jim Thorpe Award announced Wednesday. Luani was also added to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame earlier this week.
Luani, already named the Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week, recorded a game-high 11 tackles, eight solo, with two interceptions and a pass break-up in Washington State’s 52-31 win over Oregon State. Luani’s first interception, late in the fourth quarter, was returned 84 yards for a touchdown, WSU’s only points of the second half and the first pick-six for the Cougars since the 2013 season.