Michigan State University Athletics
Jacoby Windmon Named Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week
10/18/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the second time this season, Michigan State senior linebacker/defensive end Jacoby Windmon has earned recognition as the national defensive player of the week.
Windmon was honored as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) on Tuesday following his impressive performance in MSU's 34-28 double-overtime win over Wisconsin.
Earlier this season, Windmon was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week after collecting a career-high four sacks in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan on Sept. 2.
Windmon recorded a season-best 11 tackles against Wisconsin, including two for losses (6 yards), in his first start of the year at linebacker (previous six starts at defensive end). 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).
On Monday, Windmon became the first Spartan and just the sixth player in Big Ten history to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades three times in one season (Week 1 vs. Western Michigan; Week 2 vs. Akron; Week 7 vs. Wisconsin). In Week 2 against Akron, Windmon forced three fumbles, the most by a Spartan since 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.
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.
This is the third time a Michigan State player has earned the weekly Bronko Nagurski award by the FWAA and the first since safety RJ Williamson in 2015 (Week 3 vs. Air Force). Shilique Calhoun earned it as well in 2013 (Week 2 vs. USF). All-America cornerback Darqueze Dennard was also a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist in 2013.
Each week during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 16. The national defensive player of the year will be chosen from those finalists who are part of the 2022 FWAA All-America Team and presented with the trophy at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 5 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Michigan State (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 to face No. 4/3 Michigan (7-0, 4-0) in Ann Arbor at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
Windmon was honored as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) on Tuesday following his impressive performance in MSU's 34-28 double-overtime win over Wisconsin.
Earlier this season, Windmon was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week after collecting a career-high four sacks in his Spartan debut against Western Michigan on Sept. 2.
Windmon recorded a season-best 11 tackles against Wisconsin, including two for losses (6 yards), in his first start of the year at linebacker (previous six starts at defensive end). 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).
On Monday, Windmon became the first Spartan and just the sixth player in Big Ten history to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades three times in one season (Week 1 vs. Western Michigan; Week 2 vs. Akron; Week 7 vs. Wisconsin). In Week 2 against Akron, Windmon forced three fumbles, the most by a Spartan since 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.
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.
This is the third time a Michigan State player has earned the weekly Bronko Nagurski award by the FWAA and the first since safety RJ Williamson in 2015 (Week 3 vs. Air Force). Shilique Calhoun earned it as well in 2013 (Week 2 vs. USF). All-America cornerback Darqueze Dennard was also a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist in 2013.
Each week during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2022 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 16. The national defensive player of the year will be chosen from those finalists who are part of the 2022 FWAA All-America Team and presented with the trophy at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 5 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football then became a star for professional football's Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw "Bronko" Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Michigan State (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 to face No. 4/3 Michigan (7-0, 4-0) in Ann Arbor at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
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