Texas LB Jaylan Ford wins Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
The junior linebacker from Frisco (Texas) Lone Star continued his breakout year in a big win over Baylor on Friday from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
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Ford notched 13 tackles (two solo) with two tackles for loss, one interception, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry in the victory over Baylor. His fourth-quarter interception was returned 18 yards to the Baylor 42-yard line and set up Texas’ final touchdown of the game. It was Ford’s fourth interception of the season, tied for most by a linebacker in UT history, with all four leading to Texas touchdowns.
Ford became the third Longhorn to be tabbed the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Week three times in a season (Derrick Johnson, 2004; Jackson Jeffcoat, 2013). He tallied 10-plus tackles for the sixth time and has forced a turnover in six straight games.
Ford leads FBS linebackers in interceptions and is the only Power 5 player with four interceptions and three forced fumbles. He is also the only FBS player with four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries and both of his fumble recoveries clinched wins for Texas (Kansas State, Iowa State).
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The third-year linebacker earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2021, a two-time all-state honoree who led Lone Star to the state semifinals in 2019, and a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2020, spring 2021).
With Jahdae Barron having earned the honor following week three, Texas earned the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Week honors four times this season, matching the most times in program history that UT has earned the accolade (2009, 2017).
Texas’ 2022 Weekly Big 12 Weekly Honors
Week 3 vs. UTSA – Jahdae Barron (Defensive)
Week 6 vs. Oklahoma – Quinn Ewers (Newcomer)
Week 7 vs. Iowa State – Jaylan Ford (Defensive)
Week 10 at Kansas State – Jaylan Ford (Defensive)
Week 12 at Kansas – Bijan Robinson (Offensive)
Week 13 vs. Baylor – Bijan Robinson (Co-Offensive)
Week 13 vs. Baylor – Jaylan Ford (Defensive)
