The Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week honor goes Northern Kentucky linebacker Jon D’Angelo. Despite leading the league in tackles since week 3, D’Angelo never claimed the league’s weekly defensive honor – until now. He finished the game with seven tackles.
Jon D’Angelo – Northern Kentucky
Toheeb Akinola – Johnstown
The Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week honor goes to Johnstown’s Toheeb Akinola. The defensive back recorded 11 tackles with two interceptions, including a 35-yard return for touchdown. His pick six helped the Generals reclaim the lead and spark a 30-0 game-ending run. He is the third Johnstown defender to claim the defensive award.
Marcus McClinton – Eastern Kentucky
Marcus McClinton was one of the key performers as the Drillers recorded the first shutout in UIFL history. He becomes the first EKY player to earn the Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week. The safety from the University of Kentucky had six tackles and two interceptions, one of which he took back for a touchdown.
John Jacobs – Saginaw
Saginaw’s John Jacobs earns the Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Northern Kentucky. Jacobs recorded a game-high 11 tackles with a fumble caused and 47-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery that nearly tied the game with 50 seconds left in the game. However, the Sting missed the extra point.
Brett Hamblen – Northern Kentucky
For the fourth time this season, a member of the Northern Kentucky defense is the Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week. Following his six-tackle, two-interception performance, defensive back Brett Hamblen picked up the laurel. Both picks came in the end zone and kept Eastern Kentucky off the board. River Monsters players Santino Turnbow (4/4), Thomas McKenzie (3/22) and Kenneth Joshen (2/28) have all claimed the league’s defensive award this season.
Phillip Smith – Saginaw
Saginaw’s Phillip Smith becomes the first Sting player to earn the Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week. He is third Saginaw player to earn the league’s weekly award. Smith enabled the Sting to secure sole possession of second place in the UIFL standing with eight tackles, one for loss and one interception.
Santino Turnbow – Northern Kentucky
Santino Turnbow, the River Monsters’ starting linebacker, earned the Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week. Turnbow finished the game with eight tackles, four pass break-ups and two quarterback hurries in NKY’s win.
Andre Portis – Huntington
Andre Portis, Huntington’s defensive end, was named the Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week. He spearheaded a unit that handcuffed Johnstown on 33 yards offensively and a season-low 16 points. Portis recorded 3.5 sacks to go along with a team-high six tackles.
Thomas McKenzie – Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky’s defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage all night with 10 sacks. Thomas McKenzie, who earned Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week, recorded 4.5 of those sacks with seven tackles and a quarterback hurry. He is the second NKY player (Kenneth Joshen 2/28) to earn the league’s defensive honor.
Deqwan Young – Johnstown
For the second consecutive week, a Johnstown General has earned the Terry’s Tire Town Defensive Player of the Week. This week its newly signed Deqwan Young, who recorded five tackles, two interceptions and a pass break-up. Defensive lineman Victor Sesay earned the honor last week.