BYU LB Isaiah Kaufusi Receives National Defensive Player Of The Week Recognition
Sep 9, 2020, 1:46 PM | Updated: Sep 10, 2020, 12:00 am
PROVO, Utah – The accolades and recognition continue to pile up for BYU after their dominant 55-3 victory over Navy. BYU linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi received recognition on Wednesday as college football’s top defensive player from the opening week of the season.
Our first National Defensive Player of the Week chosen by @TheFWAA goes to LB @Isaiah_Kaufusi of @BYUFootball after the Cougars trampled Navy to open the season. https://t.co/4XfAw4jMr4 pic.twitter.com/P9r58VFrcA
— Nagurski Trophy (@NagurskiTrophy) September 9, 2020
Kaufusi was named the Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week for his two-sack and five tackle performance against the Midshipmen.
The senior captain is only the second BYU player to receive the national Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week honor. Five years ago former BYU safety Kai Nacua earned the recognition for his performance against Boise State.
BYU’s defense held Navy’s triple-option attack to only three points and 119 rushing yards. The 119 rushing yards were the fewest yards on the ground for a Midshipmen offense since 2012.
With this player of the week honor, Kaufusi now joins senior nose tackle Khyiris Tonga on the Nagurski Award Watch List, an award that is given to college football’s top defensive player.
The Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week recognition has been recognizing the top defensive players in college football on a weekly basis since the 2001 season.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
