Jake Ryan named Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Week award
The Michigan defense completely stifled Illinois in a 45-0 rout Saturday, holding the Fighting Illini offense to just 134 total yards.
Redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Jake Ryan led the way with 11 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble.
Advertisement
It seemed like wherever there was a play to be made on the defensive side, Ryan was never far from the football.
His 11 tackles tied a career-high that Ryan set in the Wolverines' 31-25 win over Air Force in the second week of the season.
And with his 3.5 tackles for loss, Ryan now has 7.5 on the year, which ranks first on the team and sixth in the Big Ten.
Ryan has tallied at least one tackle for loss in five of the Wolverines' six games this year and 11 of the last 12, dating back to last season.
This is Ryan's first-career Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Week award. The last Michigan player to win the honor was former defensive tackle Ryan Van Bergen, who it after posting seven tackles, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in a 31-7 win over Illinois in 2011.