National Defensive Player of the Week Goes to Swann

HANOVER, N.H. — Dartmouth cornerback Isiah Swann was honored by not just the Ivy League as its Defensive Player of the Week for a second straight week, but also by STATS, which chose the junior as its FCS National Defensive Player of the Week. This is Swann's third career weekly honor from the conference office, and second national weekly honor, having been selected as the FCS Freshman of the Week two years ago.

On Saturday at Holy Cross, Swann spearheaded a defensive effort that held the host Crusaders without a point or a first down into the fourth quarter. The cornerback from Queen Creek, Arizona, intercepted three passes — all in the first half — to tie a Big Green single-game record, plus contributed three tackles to the 34-14 victory.

Swann wasted little time in making himself known in the secondary, stepping in front of a receiver on the game's second play from scrimmage for his first pick at the Holy Cross 34. Early in the second quarter, he struck again at nearly the same spot, once again giving Dartmouth terrific field position at the Crusader 37. After the Big Green scored a touchdown with three seconds left in the half for a 20-0 advantage, Swann made sure Holy Cross did not gain any kind of momentum, snaring a long pass downfield out of the air to end the half.

Through two games, Swann leads the FCS with 2.0 interceptions per game, double that of any other player. He has now picked off four passes this season and eight in his career.

Dartmouth (2-0, 0-0) opens Ivy League play this Saturday against another team that has shown a strong defense when Penn (2-0, 0-0), comes to Hanover. Kickoff is set for 1:35 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Tyler Murray and Matt Goldstein on the call. Big Green fans can also listen to the game locally on 94 ESPN Radio or worldwide at 945espn.com with Brett Franklin and Wayne Young '72 bringing the action over the airwaves.

Notes: Swann is the fourth Big Green player to earn the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honor in back-to-back weeks, joining linebacker Zack Walz (1995), safety Lloyd Lee (1996) and linebacker Michael Runger (2013) … the Dartmouth defense has forced eight turnovers this season while surrendering a grand total of 11 first downs, fewest in the country … the Green also lead the FCS in fewest total yards allowed, fewest rushing yards allowed, turnover margin, third-down percentage defense and time of possession.

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