Reese II Tabbed Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week
Tuesday, September 17, 2019 | Football
DALLAS, Texas – The Football Writers Association of America named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, as senior linebacker David Reese II received the honor after logging a career-high 16 tackles - 13 of them solo – to help the Gators to a come-from-behind 29-21 win at Kentucky. The nod comes just a day after Reese II was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Reese, a senior from Farmington, Mich., stopped Kentucky's Asim Rose on fourth-and-one at the Gators' 38-yard-line on the first play of the fourth quarter with Kentucky leading 21-10. Florida scored on its ensuing possession and scored the game's final 19 points. The last Florida player to have 16 tackles in a game was Antonio Morrison on Oct. 3, 2015, against Ole Miss.
The 16 tackles topped Reese's previous high of 14 set twice, most recently last season against Missouri. Florida's leader in total tackles (23) is tied for seventh in the SEC with a 7.7 average per game. Of his 173.5 total tackles in his career, more than half (96) have been unassisted.
Saturday's win extended Florida's win streak to seven, spanning back to last season, its longest since a 2015 Birmingham Bowl win plus the first six games of 2016. The Gators have now won 32 of the last 33 games against Kentucky, including the last 16 in Lexington, with their last loss there coming in 1986.
Each Tuesday during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. Reese will be added to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Wed., Nov. 20. The winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2019 FWAA All-America Team.
The Gators are back at the Swamp this Saturday, Sept. 21, hosting Tennessee in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 12 p.m. on ESPN.
Champions Parade:
The University Athletic Association has found a new way to honor its former conference champions who are back in Gainesville for a reunion.
For the first time, fans can look forward to a "Champions Parade" prior to the team arriving for Gator Walk on Sept. 21. Complete details are still being finalized, but fans are encouraged to make their way to Gator Walk Village about 2.5 hours before kickoff that day for the parade.
Here are the complete list of teams being honored:
In addition, the Gators five conference championship teams from 2018-19 will be recognized with the reunion champions (Men's Swimming and Diving, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Men's Indoor Track and Field, Men's Tennis) at the game.
Reese, a senior from Farmington, Mich., stopped Kentucky's Asim Rose on fourth-and-one at the Gators' 38-yard-line on the first play of the fourth quarter with Kentucky leading 21-10. Florida scored on its ensuing possession and scored the game's final 19 points. The last Florida player to have 16 tackles in a game was Antonio Morrison on Oct. 3, 2015, against Ole Miss.
The 16 tackles topped Reese's previous high of 14 set twice, most recently last season against Missouri. Florida's leader in total tackles (23) is tied for seventh in the SEC with a 7.7 average per game. Of his 173.5 total tackles in his career, more than half (96) have been unassisted.
Saturday's win extended Florida's win streak to seven, spanning back to last season, its longest since a 2015 Birmingham Bowl win plus the first six games of 2016. The Gators have now won 32 of the last 33 games against Kentucky, including the last 16 in Lexington, with their last loss there coming in 1986.
Each Tuesday during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. Reese will be added to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Wed., Nov. 20. The winner will be chosen from those five finalists who are part of the 2019 FWAA All-America Team.
The Gators are back at the Swamp this Saturday, Sept. 21, hosting Tennessee in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 12 p.m. on ESPN.
Champions Parade:
The University Athletic Association has found a new way to honor its former conference champions who are back in Gainesville for a reunion.
For the first time, fans can look forward to a "Champions Parade" prior to the team arriving for Gator Walk on Sept. 21. Complete details are still being finalized, but fans are encouraged to make their way to Gator Walk Village about 2.5 hours before kickoff that day for the parade.
Here are the complete list of teams being honored:
- 1969 Men's Tennis - 50 Years
- 1994 Men's Tennis - 25 Years
- 1994 Football - 25 Years
- 1994 Men's Golf - 25 Years
- 1994 Women's Swimming & Diving - 25 Years
- 1994 Volleyball - 25 Years
- 2009 Women's Swimming & Diving - 10 Years
- 2009 Women's Cross Country - 10 Years
- 2009 Soccer - 10 Years
- 2009 Softball - 10 Years
- 2009 Women's Track & Field - 10 Years
In addition, the Gators five conference championship teams from 2018-19 will be recognized with the reunion champions (Men's Swimming and Diving, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Men's Indoor Track and Field, Men's Tennis) at the game.
Players Mentioned
LB
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