Traynor Named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week

HANOVER, N.H. — Dartmouth linebacker Jack Traynor was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week by the league office this afternoon after helping the Big Green defeat Penn in the conference opener for both teams on Friday night, 28-15. This is the second time he has earned the honor in his career.

A fifth-year senior from Lake Forest, Illinois, Traynor racked up a season-high 10 tackles, including one for a loss on third down that forced the Quakers to punt. But it was his fumble recovery at the Penn 17 that he scooped up and took into the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter — his first collegiate points — that was the highlight of his night. As a unit, the Dartmouth defense held the FCS rushing leader to barely half of his season average yardage entering the game, limiting Karekin Brooks to 91 on 19 carries. And Penn's second touchdown came with 2:15 to play with the game well in hand.

Traynor, a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy thanks to his 3.68 GPA as an engineering major, has 217 tackles in his career, the most for a Dartmouth player in the last six years. He is also a two-time, unanimous All-Ivy League First Team selection, two-time Division I All-New England performer and two-time FCS Athletics Directors Assocation Academic All-Star.

Traynor's honor is the first for a Big Green defensive player since Rocco Di Leo took home the accolade last October. And this is Dartmouth's second weekly award this season; place kicker Connor Davis was named the Special Teams Player of the Week after providing eight points in a 38-3 win over Colgate.

Senior Jared Gerbino was listed among the players on the league's honor roll for his role in the win over the Quakers. The quarterback completed 9-of-12 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown, plus ran for another score as he led the Green with 77 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Dartmouth (3-0, 1-0 Ivy) returns to Memorial Field this Saturday to host the preseason favorite for the Ivy League crown, Yale (3-0, 1-0 Ivy) in a battle between two of the five undefeated teams that remain in the FCS. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Matt Corsetti and Matt Goldstein on the call, and a free audio broadcast will be available online as well through DartmouthSports.com with Brett Franklin and Wayne Young '72 calling the action.

Notes: Traynor was also named the league's defensive player of the week by College Sports Madness and received honorable mention from STATS for the National Defensive Player of the Week award … Dartmouth has now had a fumble returned for a touchdown in each of the last five seasons … the Big Green have not trailed at any point this season, and since the start of the 2018 campaign have been behind for a total of 15:58, or barely more than a full quarter in 13 games.

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