LOGAN, Utah – Utah State inside linebacker Asher Cunningham was named the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday following his performance in USU's 17-16 home win against Washington State on Friday night.
Cunningham was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
It is the first time ever that a Utah State player has been honored with a weekly award from the Walter Camp Foundation.
Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week
Asher Cunningham, Linebacker (6-2, 240, Jr., Asheville, N.C./A.C. Reynolds HS/Elon)
- Had a career-high 17 tackles for his second double-digit tackle outing of the season and the fourth of his career.
- Forced a career-high two fumbles and tied his career high with one fumble recovery. Both of his forced fumbles were in the second half and led to a pair of USU touchdowns helping the Aggies rally from a 16-3 halftime deficit.
- Had 0.5 sacks and tied his career-high with 2.0 tackles for loss.
- His 17 tackles are the most in the Pac-12 this year, tied for the fourth-most at the FBS level, and the most by a USU player since MJ Tafisi (17) in 2023.
- Is one of just 15 FBS players since at least 2005 to have 17 or more tackles and two forced fumbles in the same game and the first since 2020. The last Aggie to accomplish this feat was David Woodward, who had 24 tackles and two forced fumbles at Wake Forest in 2019.
- Part of a Utah State defense that limited Washington State to five first downs, 64 yards of total offense, and zero points in the second half.
- Ranks tied for second in the Pac-12 with 52 tackles and tied for third with 8.67 tackles per game. Leads the Pac-12 with three forced fumbles while his 6.0 tackles for loss are tied for the third-most in the conference.
Up Next
Utah State (2-4, 1-1 Pac-12) continues Pac-12 play next weekend at Texas State (2-3, 0-1 Pac-12) on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 5:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
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