Freshman Walton continues to dominate, nets national weekly honors

GREENVILLE, S.C.— While the Trojans suffered a hard-fought defeat to #15 St. Xavier on Saturday, the loss was not without several impressive performers clad in the Trojan blue and white, chief among them being freshman edge rusher Jeremy Walton, whose exceptional game has earned him recognition as the NCCAA Defensive Player of the Week!

It's impossible to overlook Walton's contributions, as he lit up the box score to the tune of a team-leading nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. While those numbers are no doubt eye-popping in their own right, they barely begin to illustrate the extent of the true freshman's dominance on Saturday afternoon. Walton's fingerprints were all over the ballgame, as he consistently surged through the vaunted Cougar pass-protection unit to force hasty decisions in the passing game and flew from sideline to sideline to chase down ball carriers. Even when he wasn't the man making the play, Walton's impact caused a seismic shift in how the battle unfolded. His relentless pressure helped the Trojan defense snatch a season-high three interceptions, while also forcing 14 incompletions, the highest total the Trojans had mustered in over a month and their second-highest tally of the season.

While the native of nearby Gurnee, Illinois was sensational on Saturday, the stellar outing was no outlier in his terrific debut season. He leads the team in tackles (54) and sacks (8.0), while also chipping in two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. His ability to get behind the line and target the opposing QB has earned him a spot in the TIU history books as he's surpassed the single season record for sacks and places top ten in the career category. Walton's signature blend of size (6-1, 230 pounds), speed, skill, and versatility will continue to give offensive coordinators sleepless nights, and he and the Trojans (0-8) will next set their sights on Missouri Baptist for a Saturday afternoon showdown in St. Louis.

To read the NCCAA's release, click here.

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Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness, and lifelong learning.

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Players Mentioned

#90 Jeremy Walton: DL/LB; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#90 Jeremy Walton
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: DL/LB

Players Mentioned

#90 Jeremy Walton

Players Mentioned

#90 Jeremy Walton