Iowa's Humpal is Nagurski National Player of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - Iowa linebacker Mike Humpal has been named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week for games of Oct. 13.

Humpal, a 6-3, 242-pound senior from New Hampton, Iowa, registered a career-high 18 tackles (2.5 for losses) and recovered a fumble in Iowa's 10-6 upset victory over nationally-ranked Illinois. With Iowa holding its four-point lead, Humpal recovered an Illinois fumble in Hawkeye territory early in the fourth quarter.

Illinois had been averaging 30.2 points and 261.2 yards rushing per game. Iowa held the Illini to more than 24 points below their seasonal scoring average and to 137 yards rushing.

Humpal will be added to the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 3 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

Each week during the 2007 season the FWAA All- America Committee will select a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.

Last season Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 12th season the FWAA has named a Defensive Player of the Year.