UConn Huskies linebacker Yawin Smallwood picked up his second Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors while Nick Williams was honored as the Big East Special Teams Player of the Week.
Here’s the release:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – University of Connecticut redshirt sophomore linebacker Yawin Smallwood (Worcester, Mass.) was named the BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Week while senior Nick Williams (East Windsor, N.J.) was named the Special Teams Player of the Week after the Huskies 24-21 win over Maryland on Saturday.
Smallwood earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks and had a game-high 14 tackles vs. the Terps — five more than any other player in the game . He had 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble that led to a Connecticut field goal. Smallwood leads all FBS players in tackles for loss (3.0 per game) and is eighth nationally in sacks (1.3 per game).
Williams accounted for 112 all-purpose yards, including a 58-yard punt return for a touchdown. On a day in which the Huskies’ offense was held to just 223 yards, Williams helped Connecticut’s cause with 52 yards on two kickoff returns and 60 yards on two punt returns.
Pittsburgh quarterback Tino Sunseri was named the Offensive Player of the Week.
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