Zaven Collins Named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week

FORT WORTH, Texas –– The University of Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance on Saturday against SMU, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) announced today.

It marks the first time that a Tulsa player has won the prestigious Bronko Nagurski weekly award since it began in 2001.

Collins, a 6-4, 260-pound junior from Hominy, Okla., led a defensive effort that held an SMU offense that entered the game eighth in the nation in total offense (526.3 ypg) to just 351 yards, and more importantly shut the Mustangs out in the second half giving up only 165 yards in the final two quarters while its offense mounted the comeback.

Collins' interception at midfield with 1:29 left clinched the win that kept the Golden Hurricane undefeated in the American Athletic Conference. He leads conference in interceptions per game (0.60) and has three interceptions and 10.0 tackles for loss this season.

In five games, including three against top-25 opponents (Oklahoma State, UCF and SMU), Collins has 24 solo tackles among his 33 total stops and 10 TFL's for minus-45 yards and four sacks. He took back one of his three interceptions for a 38-yard touchdown at USF and the 2018 FWAA Freshman All-American has been named The American's Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.

Each Tuesday 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 three finalists for the 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Dec. 9. The national defensive player of the year will be announced on Dec. 22 and chosen from those finalists who are part of the 2020 FWAA All-America Team.

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.

Zaven Collins Named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week

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