Ad Disclosure
Northwestern withholds weekly defensive honors after frustrating performance vs. Michigan State
Published:
Northwestern declined to give out weekly defensive honors following its 38-21 loss to Michigan State in Week 1.
Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald made that announcement on Monday:
No defensive player of the week for Northwestern, per head coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Wildcats gave up 38 points to Michigan State. Spartans RB Kenneth Walker III earned B1G Offensive POTW honors for his big game.
— Paul Harvey 🔨 (@HammerHarvey) September 6, 2021
No Defensive Player of the Week. No Defensive Playmaker of the Week. I think that speaks for itself.
— Inside NU (@insidenu) September 6, 2021
The Wildcats’ defense was thrashed by the Spartans, and specifically by running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker rushed for 264 yards and 4 touchdowns on just 23 carries.
Northwestern gave up a total of 326 rushing yards on Friday vs. the Spartans, which is easily the worst mark of the Big Ten season so far. The next-closest team is Ohio State, who gave up 203 yards vs. Minnesota in its season-opener.
This was the first time Northwestern has given up 38 or more points since losing to No. 11 Minnesota 38-22 on Nov. 23, 2019.
Fitzgerald added that any player who would have been selected as a Defensive Player of the Week would have turned down the honor.
Fitz says if a player was selected for DPOW or Defensive Playmaker of the Week by the coaches, they would've turned it down.
— Inside NU (@insidenu) September 6, 2021
Chris Bergin and Brandon Jospeh led the Wildcats in tackles with 8 and 7, respectively. No other Wildcat had more than 4 tackles in the game.
For his performance, Walker was named B1G Offensive Player of the Week.
Northwestern hosts Indiana State in Week 2.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.