Either Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni knows his players or linebacker Clint Sellers is simply that good, or both.

Sunday afternoon before the award was announced Bellantoni said that his junior linebacker Clint Sellers was probably in line to win this week’s Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week award.

Not exactly a profit-worthy prediction after Sellers had 10 tackles, two interceptions and one sack to lead Eastern to its 26-7 win against Tennessee-Martin. Well, his coach was right as Sellers took home the award for the first time this season.

“He had a great game and was a leader on our defense all night long,” Bellantoni said.

Sellers came to Eastern this season after spending two years at North Iowa Area Community College in Iowa. Normally, a junior college transfer isn’t considered a leader in his first season with a new team but Bellantoni believes this is not the case.

“He’s a leader on this defense,” Bellantoni said. “The guys respect him and follow him all the time.”

Sellers leads the Panthers and the OVC with 84 tackles and has had double-digit tackle performances in six of the eight games this season.

“I think (safety) Tristan Burge might win OVC Defensive Player of the Year of anyone on our team because he has the eye-opening plays,” Bellantoni said. “But you talk about solid playing week in and week out with the amount of tackles, you gotta look at Clint.”

In addition to the conference honor, Sellers won the weekly team award for the hardest hit of the week known as “the hammer” given by the defensive staff.

On a two-yard pass to UTM receiver Justin Glover, Sellers lifted the junior tailback up and planted him into the ground. After the play, the Skyhawks training staff was forced to come out and check Glover over before helping him off the field.

“That was an easy call. Trust me, he won the hammer,” Bellantoni said.

Sellers picked the best time for his second and third interceptions of the season. The middle linebacker picked off two of UTM quarterback Ray Jackson’s passes late in the fourth quarter to hold the Skyhawks scoreless in final 15 minutes.

“If it’s possible, he usually makes a quiet 12-13 tackles but it was nice to see him get a couple of turnovers,” Bellantoni said.