SAN FRANCISCO – Devante Downs was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for the second time in the first three games for his performance Saturday in unbeaten Cal's 27-16 home win over Ole Miss at California Memorial Stadium. Downs is the first Cal defensive player to win the honor twice in the same season since Mike Mohamed in 2009. Downs was also previously named the College Sports Madness National and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.

Downs totaled a career-high and game-high-tying 14 tackles against the Rebels, as well as career and game highs in all sack (2.0, -13 yards, co-game high with teammate Alex Funches for sack yards) and tackles for loss (3.0, -21 yards) categories. He also added his fifth career interception and second of the season as well as one quarterback hurry. The Cal defense recorded its second consecutive second-half shutout after trailing 16-7 at the break to help the Golden Bears to their third straight second-half comeback win.

Downs leads all active Cal players in being involved in nine turnovers during his career including four in the first three games of the 2017 season with two interceptions, two forced fumbles (one recovered by Cal) and one fumble recovery. Downs is also the Pac-12's leading tackler over the first three games of the 2017 campaign and tied for 14th nationally with an average of 10.7 stops per game and a total of 32. In addition, he ranks tied for third nationally with his two interceptions and tied for eighth with his one fumble recovered. His two forced fumbles share the Pac-12 lead and are tied for ninth nationally. Cal's defense has allowed an average of 22.0 points per game in the opening three contests after giving up 42.6 ppg in 2016.

Downs is Cal's active career leader with 179 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss (-58 yards), 8.0 sacks (-40 yards), five interceptions that he has returned for 59 yards and one touchdown and three forced fumbles while he has added three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 36 games with 16 starts.

Cal (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) will open Pac-12 play by hosting No. 5/5 USC (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) at California Memorial Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 23 (12:30 pm PDT, ABC).

Radio broadcasts of all Cal football games can be heard live on KGO 810 AM, the Cal Bears Sports Network powered by Learfield, SiriusXM satellite radio and CalBears.com via TuneIn. The Toyota Tailgate pregame show starts one hour before kickoff.

Fans can secure seats at California Memorial Stadium for the 2017 season and become a season-ticket holder now. For more information, visit CalBears.com/tickets or call (800) GO BEARS (462-3277).
 
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