NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Ja'Kai Young earned his first career weekly award as a Runnin' Bulldog, earning Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday, Nov. 13.
Young was part of a Gardner-Webb defense that locked down Tennessee Tech in a 35-0 victory on Saturday, Nov. 11. Young finished the game with six tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss, and three pass break-ups, with two of those coming on fourth down attempts by the Golden Eagles. The Runnin' Bulldogs held TTU to 0-for-5 on fourth down, while the GWU secondary gave up just 206 passing yards.
Young also recorded his second pick-six of the season, returning a pass by Jordyn Potts 33-yards to the endzone late in the second quarter to give GWU a 35-0 lead. Young and teammate
Jamari Brown both tallied pick-sixes against Tennessee Tech, the first time in Gardner-Webb's Division-I history that the Runnin' Bulldogs have returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game.
The Stamford, Conn. native recorded his first interception return for a touchdown as a Runnin' Bulldog on Oct. 21 against Eastern Kentucky, a 40-yard sprint to the endzone after picking off Parker McKinney in GWU's 35-32 win over the Colonels.
This season, Young has 34 tackles, two interceptions, eight pass break-ups, and a forced fumble.
Young is the first Gardner-Webb player to be named Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Week, and is the fourth different Runnin' Bulldog to earn a weekly award from the conference.
Jayden Brown (Offensive Player of the Week - 9/4),
Jay Billingsley (Special Teams Player of the Week - 9/11), and
Jaylen King (Freshman of the Week - 10/30, 11/6) have all earned weekly conference honors this season. He is the first GWU player to be bamed the conference Defensive Player of the Week since
William McRainey did so on Nov. 21, 2022.
Gardner-Webb closes out the regular season at Spangler Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 18 against rival Charleston Southern. A win would give Gardner-Webb a share of the Big South-OVC conference championship, and the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs for the second year in a row. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM. Fans can purchase tickets online at gwusports.com.
Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Week
9/4 - Elijawah Tolbert, Eastern Illinois
9/11 - James Green, Tennessee State
9/18 - Deon Edwards, Lindenwood
9/25 - Chris Hunter, UT Martin
10/2 - Blake Ruffin, Eastern Illinois - Monroe Beard III, Tennessee State
10/9 - Kobe McClendon, Lindenwood
10/16 - Terrell Allen, Tennessee State
10/23 - Terrell Allen, Tennessee State
10/30 - Terrell Allen, Tennessee State
11/6 - Dominic Pagano, Charleston Southern - Bryce Norman, SEMO
11/13 - Ja'Kai Young, Gardner-Webb
