Week 9 Stats: 11 tackles (7 solo), 2.0 TFL (11 yards), 1.0 sack (7 yards), 2 PBU, 1 QBH
O’Neill made the most of his CBS Sports Network debut, a prime time matchup at Central Connecticut on Thursday evening. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year anchored an LIU defensive effort that pitched a second-half shutout and scored a 24-23 come-from-behind victory against the Blue Devils. O’Neill was all over the gridiron in the win. The Staten Island product accumulated double-digit tackles for the second time this season after he registered seven solo and four assisted stops. In addition, O’Neill pushed the Blue Devils back a total of 18 yards behind 2.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 sack. Adding two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry to that impressive stat line, the redshirt sophomore came away with one of the biggest plays of the game on special teams when he blocked a PAT in the second quarter. That denied extra point proved to be the difference in the one-point victory. Ranking eighth in the circuit in tackles per game (7.0) and total tackles (56), O’Neil leads the conference and is second in the nation in tackles-for-loss per game with 2.2. With this week’s award, he is now a two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Week honoree this season.