Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith is this week’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

It’s the first time the Virginia native has won the award. The honor comes after Smith had a career-high 10 tackles in Penn State’s 28-20 win over Auburn, besting his previous record of eight. Smith helped the Nittany Lions limit Auburn to its lowest total offensive numbers of the season so far, as the Tigers had only 185 passing yards.

Smith had seven tackles in the first half alone to help shut down the Tigers’ offense. Additionally, three of his 10 tackles held Auburn to one yard or fewer. Smith leads the Nittany Lions through their first three games with 25 tackles, ranking fifth in the Big Ten for that category.

Smith helped lead Penn State to its first win over an SEC team since 1990, and he’s the first Penn State player to achieve the honor of Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week since Robert Windsor back in 2018.

The 3-0 Nittany Lions will host Villanova at noon on Saturday, September 25. It’ll be the first time the two meet since 1951.

About the Author

Mikey DeAngelis

Mikey DeAngelis is a Penn State graduate with a degree in film production who served as Onward State's visual editor from 2023-2025. While not reminiscing about his time at Penn State, he enjoys making content for his YouTube channel. Mikey loves Philly sports, traveling and hiking in National Parks, and watching movies. To reach Mikey, feel free to reach out on Twitter (@mikey_deangelis) or by email (mikey.deangelis@gmail.com).

How Centre County Voted In The 2026 Midterm Elections

Centre County saw a 55.32% voter turnout rate in the general election.

Man Accused of Stealing Vehicle From State College Hotel & Driving Drunk

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.

‘Blood In The Water’: Penn State Football Cornerback Audavion Collins & Secondary Elevating Surrounding Units

“He does a good job of making everyone else around him better because he’s the hardest-working guy on the field at all times.”