The Dallas Cowboys‘ new elite llinebacker Leighton Vander Esch continued to rise this week as the NFL named him Defensive Rookie of the Month.

Dallas LB Vander Esch Earns Top Defensive honor

After the Cowboys put on a stunning defensive performance against the New Orleans Saints Thursday night, rookie linebacker Vander Esch received the top defensive award.

Vander Esch, a 2018 first-round pick out of Boise State, accounted for 39 tackles and two interceptions in November. He had double-digit tackles in every game and leads the Cowboys in total tackles with 119, putting him on pace to pass Dexter Coakley (136) for the team’s all-time rookie record.

RT to join us in congratulating @VanderEsch38 on being named the @NFL‘s Defensive Rookie of the Month! 🐺

📰 https://t.co/9GStZrAOL0 pic.twitter.com/pPDP4kSPpZ

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 29, 2018

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DeMarcus Ware was the last Cowboy to win the honor when he claimed it in 2005.

This is Leighton Vander Esch’s high school football field. He’s now starring in a billion-dollar palace. pic.twitter.com/qekiR0v8ph

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) November 30, 2018

Vander Esch previously won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award after the Cowboys’ 27-20 win against Philadelphia earlier in November.

The Cowboys selected Vander Esch with the No. 19 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. LVE is in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year and leads the NFL in solo tackles (79). Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones is “almost giddy” about the thought of having Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith out on the football field.

I’m really looking forward to watching these guys together for the next 8-10 years. @thejaylonsmith @VanderEsch38 pic.twitter.com/6q3TcX0YiI

— Cowboys Nation (@CowboysNation) November 30, 2018

Dallas saw themselves fall behind early in the season with the loss of LB Sean Lee, but LVE has stepped up in a big way for the team this season.