The Big 10 Conference today bestowed the weekly award on Singleton and fired off the following list of bullet points as justification for finally bringing one back to Lincoln after the hiatus shown in the last one on the list:
· Led a Nebraska defense that produced three takeaways, including two interceptions by Singleton, in a win vs. Michigan State
· Became the first Husker to record a pair of interceptions in a game since 2023
· Added six tackles as Nebraska limited Michigan State to a total of 240
yards, including just 84 rushing yards
· Last Nebraska Defensive Player of the Week honoree: JoJo Domann (Oct. 4, 2021)
The fact that it’s been four years since a Husker was tagged for Defensive POTW is telling as to how far things had sunk. While it’s always an honor to receive one, they’re not exactly rare. They give out a minimum of four per week – offense, defense, special teams and freshman; co-winners are not unusual – and they do it 14 times per season, maybe give or take one.
That means they’ve handed out around 224 of these since Jojo took his home. Singleton, the first Husker to grab the defensive award since then, joins Dylan Raiola (Freshman vs. UTEP) and Brian Buschini (Special Teams vs. Rutgers) who both snagged one last season to up the four-year total since Domann to three.
Singleton’s banner day was part of an improved effort on the part of the Blackshirts who took some grief after allowing 286 yards rushing to Michigan. As noted above, he added 6 tackles on the day, 4 solo, and his 2 picks made him the first Husker to accomplish that feat since Tommi Hill against Purdue in 2023.
Singleton was not the only hero on a defensive side who held Michigan State to 240 total yards and only 126 on the ground adjusted for sacks – of which the Huskers totaled 4 for -42 yards along with 3 QB hits. The defensive backfield kept it up holding pro prospect Aiden Chiles to a 9-23 85-yards 2-int line on the day and only 108 total yards – yet another quality quarterback who found a few on the ground but only misery above as the DB’s and the wind proved to be too much of an obstacle to mount any meaningful aerial attack.
In addition, Javin Wright had 10 tackles in the game, including a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss with 1/2 a sack. Wright had 10 tackles in the previous game against Michigan and he is the first Husker to notch consecutive games with double-figure tackles was Luke Reimer in 2021.
It’s notable to point out Elijah Jeudy had a 10-yard sack, the first of his career. Singleton did not actually nab his first career interception until last season against Wisconsin. And the way he’s playing now, it still seems a little nuts to realize it took Jacory Barney Jr. 15 games to grab his first touchdown reception as he is currently playing like someone who wants to be All-Big Ten, and not 2nd or 3rd team.
Coach Matt Rhule addressed these late bloomer big performances earlier on Monday:
“I think it’s just from practice. Clarify anyone here, but just if you practice well long enough, eventually it starts to translate and turn over (to performance), right? DeShon Singleton had two interceptions in the game. He’s in his sixth, fifth or sixth college football year, and it’s his third interception. Like Jeudy is a fifth year senior, it’s his first sack, I think, right? So it’s like, you just keep doing things, and eventually something good will happen.”
Saturday, it happened for Singleton.
Go Big Red.
