Russell Davis II wins Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after breakout game

Russell Davis II was recognized by the Big Ten after a stellar performance against UCLA.

The Washington Huskies showed coach Jedd Fisch a lot during their 31-19 victory over UCLA on Friday night, including that they have a budding star in edge rusher Russell Davis II.

The junior, who followed Fisch to Montlake from Seattle in January, was expected to be part of Washington’s rotation on the edge but missed the majority of the season due to an injury. He’s played in the team’s last three games and exploded against UCLA, wreaking havoc for quarterback Ethan Garbers and notching 3 of the Huskies’ 6 sacks on the day, a stat line that earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

One of those was a strip sack in the second quarter. After the Huskies gave the ball back to the Bruins after failing to convert on fourth down, Davis stepped up on the edge of the red zone and knocked the ball out before recovering it himself.

The offense took the ensuing drive for 69 yards and a touchdown, giving the Huskies a 14-3 lead just before halftime. Davis shared the honor with Oregon edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, who put together a sack and an interception in the Ducks’ 16-13 win over Wisconsin.

He also became the fourth Husky to take home conference honors this season, as quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and linebacker Khmori House have both been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, and linebacker Carson Bruener took home Defensive Player of the Week after his stellar performance against USC.

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