DALLAS-BYU linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi posted two sacks and five tackles Monday in the Cougars’ 55-3 decimation of Navy at Annapolis, Md.
This resulted in the 6-2 220-pound senior earning Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honors.
He joins former Cougars defensive back Kai Nacua who was honored in this manner in 2015.
The native of Cottonwood Heights, Utah also forced a fumble against the Midshipmen and helped limit Navy to a paltry 149 yards of offense.
Kaufusi is now on the Nagurski Trophy Watch List where he joins BYU defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga.
Tonga netted four tackles and three individual stops against the Midshipmen.
The FWAA has chosen a national defensive player of the year annually since 1993. In 1995, the award was named after Nagurski, a 1929 consensus All-American at the University of Minnesota.
Nagurski also starred for the Chicago Bears from 1930-1937 and 1943, becoming a charter member of the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
