Underwood named MVFC Defensive Player of the Week

[September 18, 2012]  ST. LOUIS -- After a career-best performance in Illinois State's thrilling 54-51 double-overtime victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Redbird junior defensive end Colton Underwood was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week by the league office Sunday.

The weekly honor is the first for Underwood in his career at Illinois State, and he joins teammates Ben Ericksen and Jonathon Miller as MVFC weekly honorees this season.

Underwood set a new career high with 13 tackles against the Panthers, finishing just behind teammate Mike Zimmer, who had 15 in the game for the Redbirds. The Washington, Ill., native also registered career highs with three sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss against the Panthers, topping his previous bests of two sacks last season against Morehead State and two tackles for loss against Indiana State. Underwood was also credited with a pair of quarterback hurries, as the Redbirds totaled five sacks and eight TFLs overall to pick up their third win of the season.

(See game report posted Monday.)

Illinois State will open conference play Saturday against in-state foe Western Illinois. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. CT kickoff and will be broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, with Kurt Pegler and Redbird all-American Boomer Grigsby on the call.

[Text from news release received from GoRedbirds.com]