WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University graduate student and linebacker Evan Mattern (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS) has been selected as the D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Week following his outstanding performance in last Saturday's win over Southern Connecticut State.

Mattern, previously selected as the Defensive Player of the Week in the Northeast-10 Conference, received similar recognition from USA College Football.

Southern Connecticut had six fumbles during the 15-13 loss to the Falcons and Mattern had a hand in four of those, including the three they lost. The first came in the opening period when he recovered one after a strip sack by senior defensive Paul Norris (North Attleboro/North Attleboro HS) and set up Bentley's first touchown.

Mattern had two strip sacks of his own in the second quarter and forced his third fumble of the afternoon in the third quarter, although the Owls recovered that one.

Overall for the game, Mattern had six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The six-foot two 225-pounder became one of just the third player to force three or more sacks in a game so far this fall, joining John Hugunin of Drake (against South Dakota) and Derrick Farrow of Kennesaw State (against Edward Waters).

For the season, Mattern is fourth on the team with 16 tackles, including 10 solo stops. He's accounted for three of the Falcons' five sacks, resulting in losses of 19 yards.

Bentley , 1-2 overall and 1-1 NE-10, is back in action Saturday with a 1:00 contest at Merrimack College.