Matt Hankins | University of Iowa
Matt Hankins | University of Iowa
Iowa senior defensive back Matt Hankins was named the Bronko Nagurski National Player of the Week after the No. 2-ranked Hawkeyes’ 23-20 win over previously undefeated Penn State.
“Senior cornerback Matt Hankins (@Matt_Hankins1) of @HawkeyeFootball led a staunch defensive effort in a 23-20 comeback win over Penn State to earn our @NagurskiTrophy National Defensive Player of the Week honor,” the Football Writers Association of America Tweeted on Oct. 12.
The Daily Iowan reported that the accolade joined two others Hankins had also won: Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week and the Rose Bowl Game Big Ten Conference Player of the Week.
Sports Illustrated’s FanNation blog reported that the 6-foot, 185-pound Hankins chipped five tackles and accounted for one of Iowa’s five interceptions in the Penn State game.
Hankins, who hails from Lewisville, Texas, is in his fifth season at Iowa, having started 22 straight games to go with 33 career starts.
The second Hawkeye player to take home the Nagurski Player of the Week award, Hankins has a total of 188 tackles and six interceptions in his collegiate career.
He is part of a defense that has snagged a nation-leading 16 interceptions through six games.
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