Michigan State University Athletics
Jacoby Windmon Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week For Third Time This Season
10/17/2022 11:04:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the third time this season, Michigan State senior linebacker/defensive end Jacoby Windmon has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
Earlier this fall, Windmon became the first Spartan defensive player to win the award in back-to-back weeks (Game 1 vs. Western Michigan; Game 2 vs. Akron). He is now the first Spartan defensive player to win the honor three times in a single season.
Windmon is just the sixth Big Ten defensive player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times in a single season (LB Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, 1995; DE Tom Burke, Wisconsin, 1998; LB Paul Posluszny, Penn State, 2005; LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State, 2013; LB Anthony Walker, Northwestern, 2015).
Windmon recorded a season-best 11 tackles, including two for losses (6 yards), in his first start of the year at linebacker (previous six starts at defensive end) in the 34-28 double-overtime win over Wisconsin. The New Orleans native caused both of the Badger turnovers – he picked off his first career pass in the first quarter at the UW 12-yard line, leading to MSU's first touchdown of the game; and then on Wisconsin's second possession in overtime, he forced a fumble that was recovered by Dashaun Mallory. Windmon is the first Spartan to record double-digit tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in the same game since Joe Bachie in 2017 at Michigan.
Windmon, who was added to the Bednarik Award Watch List last week by the Maxwell Football Club, leads the Big Ten with 10.5 tackles for loss and ranks second in the conference with 5.5 sacks. He ranks first in the FBS with six forced fumbles – three more than any other player in the nation through the first seven games of the season. His 10.5 TFLs are tied for eighth in the FBS and his 5.5 sacks are tied for 18th. Overall, he ranks sixth on the team with 37 tackles to go along with two pass break-ups, an interception and a fumble recovery. The six forced fumbles are already tied for second most in a Spartan season (record: eight by Jonal Saint-Dic in 2007).
In Week 2 against Akron, Windmon forced three fumbles, the most by a Spartan since Joe Bachie against Maryland in 2018. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss (17 yards) and 1.5 sacks (14 yards), broke up a pass, and recovered a fumble while collecting five stops overall.
In his Spartan debut against Western Michigan in Week 1, Windmon had four sacks, tied for the second most in school history.
A transfer from UNLV, Windmon posted 169 career tackles in three seasons (2019-21) for the Runnin' Rebels, adding 18.5 TFLs (100 yards), 12 sacks (85 yards), four pass break-ups and three forced fumbles in 30 career games.
Michigan State (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 to face Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Earlier this fall, Windmon became the first Spartan defensive player to win the award in back-to-back weeks (Game 1 vs. Western Michigan; Game 2 vs. Akron). He is now the first Spartan defensive player to win the honor three times in a single season.
Windmon is just the sixth Big Ten defensive player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times in a single season (LB Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, 1995; DE Tom Burke, Wisconsin, 1998; LB Paul Posluszny, Penn State, 2005; LB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State, 2013; LB Anthony Walker, Northwestern, 2015).
Windmon recorded a season-best 11 tackles, including two for losses (6 yards), in his first start of the year at linebacker (previous six starts at defensive end) in the 34-28 double-overtime win over Wisconsin. The New Orleans native caused both of the Badger turnovers – he picked off his first career pass in the first quarter at the UW 12-yard line, leading to MSU's first touchdown of the game; and then on Wisconsin's second possession in overtime, he forced a fumble that was recovered by Dashaun Mallory. Windmon is the first Spartan to record double-digit tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in the same game since Joe Bachie in 2017 at Michigan.
Windmon, who was added to the Bednarik Award Watch List last week by the Maxwell Football Club, leads the Big Ten with 10.5 tackles for loss and ranks second in the conference with 5.5 sacks. He ranks first in the FBS with six forced fumbles – three more than any other player in the nation through the first seven games of the season. His 10.5 TFLs are tied for eighth in the FBS and his 5.5 sacks are tied for 18th. Overall, he ranks sixth on the team with 37 tackles to go along with two pass break-ups, an interception and a fumble recovery. The six forced fumbles are already tied for second most in a Spartan season (record: eight by Jonal Saint-Dic in 2007).
In Week 2 against Akron, Windmon forced three fumbles, the most by a Spartan since Joe Bachie against Maryland in 2018. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss (17 yards) and 1.5 sacks (14 yards), broke up a pass, and recovered a fumble while collecting five stops overall.
In his Spartan debut against Western Michigan in Week 1, Windmon had four sacks, tied for the second most in school history.
A transfer from UNLV, Windmon posted 169 career tackles in three seasons (2019-21) for the Runnin' Rebels, adding 18.5 TFLs (100 yards), 12 sacks (85 yards), four pass break-ups and three forced fumbles in 30 career games.
Michigan State (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 to face Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Players Mentioned
Monday, August 17
Thursday, August 06
Saturday, April 18
Tuesday, April 14