Here’s the release from UConn about UConn Huskies football players Yawin Smallwood and Nick Williams picking up more weekly honors from their performances in Saturday’s win over the Maryland Terrapins.
STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut redshirt sophomore linebacker Yawin Smallwood (Worcester, Mass.) picked up three more honors on Tuesday for his performance in UConn’s 24-21 win over Maryland on Saturday.
Smallwood was named the Football Writers Association of America/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week, the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Week from the Maxwell Football Club of Southampton, Pa. and the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week. On Monday, Smallwood was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week.
UConn senior returner Nick Williams (East Windsor, N.J.) was named the ECAC Player of the Week after earning the same award from the BIG EAST on Monday.
Smallwood made 14 tackles (five more than any other player in the game) in the win. Those tackles included 3.5 for losses. He also forced a fumble that led to a Connecticut field goal. The 6-3, 235-pound Smallwood is tied for the major-college lead in tackles for loss per game (3.0) after three games. He is eighth nationally in sacks (1.3 a 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.
Smallwood will be added to the 2012 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced by the Football Writers Association of America on Nov. 15. The winner will be revealed on Dec. 3 during a banquet at the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The Maxwell Football Club annually presents the Maxwell Player of the Year Award and the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award.
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