DALLAS (FWAA) Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks made 19 tackles · four of them for losses · to go with three sacks and a forced fumble as the Red Raiders beat a ranked opponent at home for the first time since 2013 in a 45-35 win over No. 21 Oklahoma State. For his big day that surged him among the national tackle leaders, Brooks has earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 5, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
The career-high 19 tackles for the 6-1, 245-pound senior from Houston, Texas, were the most by a Texas Tech player since 2002 and his three sacks were the team's best mark since 2016. Brooks leads the Big 12 Conference and now is fourth nationally in tackles per game (12.0). His 60 total tackles are sixth nationally.
Each of Brooks' three sacks came at key moments, as he wrapped up Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders on the Cowboys' second possession and then again late in the third quarter deep in Tech territory. Brooks knocked the ball loose on his second sack for one of Tech's five takeaways, and then found Sanders again to start Oklahoma State's final drive that ended with an interception. He also stuffed a two-point conversion attempt at the goal line.
Brooks now shares the Big 12 single-game high for tackles, sacks and TFL's, and is the only conference player to do so in the same game this season. Texas Tech had seven sacks in the game, one shy of the school single-game record. He is the first Red Raider since 2002 to start a season with 10 or more tackles in each of the first three games and has 10 or more tackles in five of his past six games.
Each Tuesday during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. Brooks will be added to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Wed., Nov. 20. The winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2019 FWAA All-America Team.
The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association's entire membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. The committee members then select the winner as the best defensive player in college football.
The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Banquet, will be held on Mon., Dec. 9 in Charlotte. In addition to the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner's announcement, the banquet will also celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award.
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.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,400 men and women who cover college football.
The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key
executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas
that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.
For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson
at tiger@fwaa.com.
About the Charlotte Touchdown Club
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. Since 1991, the club has raised more than $2 million to benefit area high school and collegiate athletics. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.
2019 Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week
Weekend of Aug. 31: Alijah Halliburton, Wyoming
· Weekend of Sept. 7: Evan Weaver, Cal
· Weekend of Sept. 14: David Reese II, Florida
· Weekend of Sept. 21: Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State
· Weekend of Sept. 28: Benny Walls, Temple
· Weekend of Oct. 5: Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
· Weekend of Oct. 12: Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
· Weekend of Oct. 19: Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech
· Weekend of Oct. 26: Chase Young, Ohio State
· Weekend of Nov. 2: Dele Harding, Illinois
· Weekend of Nov. 9: Terrel Bernard, Baylor
Related link:
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (All-Time Winners, Finalists and Players of the Week)