Florida Tech Panthers’ Chris Stapleton Earns Gulf South Conference Defensive Player Of The Week

second straight week FiT panther nabs honor

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech redshirt-senior linebacker Chris Stapleton has been named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10.

Stapleton turned in a strong defensive effort in the Panthers’ 45-21 victory at West Georgia on Saturday.

The captain picked a good time to post arguably his best game of the season, keeping the Panthers right in the thick of the playoff race with one week remaining in the regular season.

Stapleton led the FIT defense with 13 total tackles, nine of which were of the solo variety, and a sack of Wolves signal caller Willie Candler. Overall the Panthers held UWG to 272 yards of total offense, including a season-low 111 yards passing.

The Navarre, Florida native leads the Panthers by far in total tackles with 71, which ranks third in the GSC. In his final season in Crimson and Gray Stapleton has also posted 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

The Panthers conclude the regular season next Saturday, taking on Delta State at 2 p.m. ET on Senior Day at Florida Tech Panther Stadium.

The contest is FIT’s annual White Out game, with the first 1,000 fan receiving a free white T-shirt. Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott will have the call on 89.5 FM WFIT and WFIT.org.

Space Coast Daily will also be on hand to conduct post game player and coach interviews.

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