Jewell Named Bednarik Award Player of the Week
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior linebacker Josey Jewell was named the Bednarik Award’s Player of the Week following Iowa’s 24-3 win over Wyoming Saturday in Kinnick Stadium. The announcement was made by the Maxwell Football Club, which is responsible for honoring the nation’s best defensive player at the end of the season, on Tuesday.
Jewell was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and the national Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Jewell (6-foot-2, 236-pounds), a native of Decorah, Iowa, led Iowa with 14 tackles, including seven solo stops. His totals included two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one pass break-up. His QB pressure late in the game led to Iowa’s second interception. The sacks and tackles for loss match career bests.
Jewell’s effort led an Iowa defense that allowed just three points to Wyoming, as the Cowboy offense totaled just 233 yards total offense and converted just six-of-20 third and fourth down conversion attempts.
Jewell was named to five preseason award watch lists, including the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and Wuerffel Trophy. In addition, he was named preseason first team All-American by the Associated Press, Athlon Sports College Sports Madness, and Sports Illustrated. He was also named as a Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch.
The Big Ten honor is the first for Jewell in his career and third this week. Last season seven different Hawkeyes earned Big Ten Player of the Week recognition.
The Hawkeyes (1-0) travel to Iowa State (1-0) Saturday (11:01 a.m., ESPN2) for the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game. Iowa returns home to host North Texas on Saturday, Sept. 16 (2:30 p.m., ESPN2).
