Michigan State’s Jacoby Windmon again named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

Michigan State senior linebacker/defensive end Jacoby Windmon continues to impress in his debut season playing for the Spartans as he repeats as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. In Saturday’s 52-0 shutout victory over Akron, Windmon’s three forced fumbles marked the most by a Spartan in a game since Joe Bachie’s three against Maryland in 2018.

Windmon notched 1.5 sacks (14 yards lost) and 2.5 tackles for loss (17 yards lost) in Saturday’s win over Akron. That was in addition to his three fumbles forced, one fumble recovery and five tackles overall.

That brings Windmon’s season total to 5.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in just two games on the season. He also has four forced fumbles. Windmon’s 5.5 sacks is more than the entire team count for nine different fellow Big Ten teams, including Ohio State and Penn State in the East Division, and teams like Nebraska in the West, with the Cornhuskers even having already played three games this season.

Windmon earns his second Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career and second in as many weeks. He becomes the first Spartan defender to ever earn back-to-back Player of the Week honors, and just the fifth all-time in any position group since the Big Ten began naming conference players of the week in 1987.

According to Michigan State’s Athletic Department, the five Spartans who have earned back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Week honors include:

Paul Edinger, 1998, Special Teams
Oct. 31 vs. Northwestern
Nov. 7 vs. Ohio State

Drew Stanton, 2005, Offense
Sept. 17 vs. Notre Dame
Sept. 24 vs. Illinois

Javon Ringer, 2008, Offense
Sept. 6 vs. Eastern Michigan
Sept. 13 vs. Florida Atlantic
Sept. 20 vs. Notre Dame

Brett Swenson, 2008, Special Teams
Oct. 4 vs. Iowa
Oct. 11 vs. Northwestern

Jacoby Windmon, 2022, Defense
Sept. 2 vs. Western Michigan
Sept. 10 vs. Akron