Arizona safety Tra’Mayne Bondurant earns conference honor

Sep 3, 2013, 6:40 PM | Updated: 6:41 pm

The Arizona Wildcats’ defense, much maligned in 2012, got 2013 off on the right foot in a 35-0 victory over Northern Arizona University last Friday.

The shutout, which was the second of the Rich Rodriguez era, was due in no small part to the play of junior safety Tra’Mayne Bondurant, who tallied seven tackles and two interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Bondurant’s effort was good enough to earn him the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor for Week 1.

Last season, as a sophomore, Bondurant registered 74 total tackles — including 11.5 for a loss — as well as three interceptions, 12 pass breakups and three forced fumbles.

Arizona's starting quarterback B. J. Denker (7) keeps the ball runs for a short gain against Northern Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Northern Arizona head coach Jerome Souers, standing center, watches the trainers evaluate his player Jacob Julian, on the ground, during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Northern Arizona's Zach Bauman, left, is tackled by Arizona's Sione Tuihalamaka (91) after a short gain during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona's starting quarterback B.J. Denker, left, is tackled by Northern Arizona's Quentin Kantaris (96) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona's Daniel Jenkins (3) is dragged down out of bounds by Northern Arizona's Anders Battle (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Arizona's Daniel Jenkins (3) is lifted into the air by teammate Cayman Bundage (61) after scoring a touchdown against Northern Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
Arizona's Jonathan McKnight (on back) congratulates Devin Holiday (13) for intercepting a pass against Northern Arizona during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/John Miller) Northern Arizona's quarterback Kyren Poe (7) runs to the sidelines as he looks to pass against Arizona during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/John Miller) Arizona's Jared Baker (23) outruns a tackle by Northern Arizona's Jourdon Grandon, far right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/John Miller) Northern Arizona's Zach Bauman (34) is finally dragged down by Arizona's Tra'Mayne Bondurant during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Wily Low) Northern Arizona's starting quarterback Kyren Poe (7) throws the ball against Arizona during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Wily Low) Arizona's head coach Rich Rodriguez, left, looks at the game clock during a timeout against Northern Arizona during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/John Miller)

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