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UNM football: Brawley named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week
UNM’s Jahmir Torres, left, and Austin Brawley, right, tackle San Diego State wide receiver Jaylon Hawkins during Friday’s game at University Stadium.
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New Mexico safety Austin Brawley was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior Ohio transfer made 10 total tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception Friday in a 23-17 double-overtime win over San Diego State. He was previously selected for the honor after making two interceptions in a 20-17 win over Colorado State on Nov. 15.
Brawley joins linebacker Jaxton Eck, kicker Luke Drzewiecki and tight end Cade Keith as one of four Lobos to earn a total of eight weekly Mountain West honors this season.
In his third game back from injury, Brawley accounted for two turnovers Friday against the Aztecs, forcing a fumble on running back Christian Washington in the first quarter and coming up with an interception in the first overtime period.
Both plays helped UNM hold SDSU over a touchdown below its season scoring average.
“It was amazing. Every single drive we would get together and we would just say, ‘hey, one more drive, one more drive,’” Brawley said in a news conference Friday. “‘That’s all we need — one more drive to get our offense the ball.’ Every single player flew around today, and I’m so proud of all of them.”
Brawley finished the regular season with 21 total tackles and three interceptions after missing eight games with a broken foot suffered in the season-opener against Michigan. He is expected to receive a medical redshirt return next season for his fifth and final year of eligibility.
“It’s like a blessing in disguise … I never thought it was going to happen. My brain instantly goes to offseason workouts and I’m like, ‘dang, I have to go through another fall camp’ and stuff like that,” he told the Journal earlier this month. “But I’m super excited to be in this program in another year, with (defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky) and everyone.”
