Nov. 3, 2014 MW Video Announcement
RENO, Nev. - Senior linebacker Jonathan McNeal has been named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. McNeal led Nevada (6-3, 3-2) past San Diego State on Saturday with a season-high 12 tackles and one of the best performances of his career.
McNeal finished with 12 stops, including eight solo tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, forced fumble and a pass break-up. In the second quarter, McNeal picked off a Quinn Kaehler pass for his first career pick and returned it 20 yards to the SDSU 20-yard line, allowing Nevada to score on the very next play.
The Los Angeles native anchored a defense that shutout the Aztecs in the second half after limiting them to 91 yards on offense. Once trailing 14-10, the Wolf Pack scored 20 unanswered points for a third consecutive comeback win. McNeal and the Pack defense held SDSU's running back Donnel Pumphrey to 56 yards under his rushing average entering the game.
McNeal, a team captain, leads Nevada with 70 tackles to go along with 3.5 tackles for loss, four turnovers forced and five passes defended on the season. McNeal ranks ninth in the conference in total tackles.
The weekly award marks the second of McNeal's career. The 6-foot-1, 235 pound linebacker also earned MW defensive player of the week honors on Nov. 18, 2013, after recording a career-high 15 tackles in Nevada's 38-16 win over San Jose State. The Wolf Pack has now earned two player of the week honors this season as senior Cody Fajardo was named offensive player of the week earlier this year after passing for 321 yards and three touchdowns at Arizona.
McNeal and the Wolf Pack have a bye this week before returning to action on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Air Force. Action will get underway at 11 a.m. (PT) from Falcon Stadium.
