A 6-2, 225-pound senior from Inglewood, CA, Onwuasor is one of the Vikings’ top players, compiling 51 tackles through eight games to go with his seven interceptions. He was named Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, following a three-interception game in a 35-16 win over nationally-ranked Montana.
Nicknamed “Peanut”, Onwuasor anchors a Viking defense that has made dramatic improvements this season on the way to a 7-1 record and top-10 national ranking. The Vikings currently rank second in the Big Sky Conference in fewest points allowed (18.8) and fewest yards allowed (342.6). PSU is allowing 15 fewer points and 100 fewer yards per game than it did last season.
Onwuasor is one of 25 players on the Stats FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. The Watch List can undergo revision during the 2015 season. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the award after the regular season.
Other players on the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List are defensive ends James Cowser of Southern Utah, Tyrone Holmes of Montana, Victor Ochi of Stony Brook, Derek Rivers of Youngstown State, Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky, Chima Uzowihe of Liberty and Jonathan Woodard of Central Arkansas; defensive tackles Javon Hargrave of South Carolina State and O.J. Mau of Gardner-Webb; linebackers Kourtney Berry of Alabama State, Don Cherry of Villanova, Deon King of Norfolk State, Cory Magwood of Furman, James Rentz of Sacred Heart and Darnell Sankey of Sacramento State; cornerbacks DeVonta “Dee” Delaney of The Citadel, Deiondre’ Hall of Northern Iowa, Jermaine Hough of Jacksonville State and Harlan Miller of Southeastern Louisiana; Keionta Davis of Chattanooga; Myke Tavarres of Incarnate Word and safeties DeAndre Houston-Carson and William & Mary, Donald Payne of Stetson and Wallace Scott of McNeese State.
