Turning in one of the finest performances in recent memory at a school typically known for its cornerback play, University of Washington defender Jabbar Muhammad earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week accolades for his dominant outing at Oregon State.
On Monday, the conference announced it had honored Muhammad, who intercepted 2 passes, came up with 4 pass break-ups and recovered a fumble in the Huskies' 22-20 victory over the then 10th-ranked Beavers in Corvallis.
"He had as good a game as anybody's had playing corner in the whole season in the conference," UW co-defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell said.
An Oklahoma State transfer, Muhammad said he came to the UW because of its reputation for sending cornerbacks to the NFL — and he looked like he was well on his way to one day joining his Husky predecessors.
Muhammad stole a pair of passes off DJ DJ Uiagalelei, the Clemson transfer, one to end the first half and the other to open the third quarter. He fell on a football on the Oregon State 19 after linebacker Carson Bruener stripped it out of wide receiver Anthony Gould's hands in the second quarter, all of which gave the UW corner three takeaways in the game.
"Awesome, just fantastic," Morrell said of Muhammad's Saturday efforts. "I think his preparation level, his determination, his focus, his football IQ, his skill set, it's just not a surprise when he just goes out and has really a dominant game."
Muhammad was the fifth Pac-12 player this season to have multiple interceptions in a game and first Husky to do since safety Asa Turner in the 2022 season opener against Kent State.
The 5-foot-10, 183-pound junior from DeSoto, Texas, currently is tied for second in the conference with 11 pass break-ups,
Muhammad is the first Husky to claim the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor since linebacker teammate Carson Bruener received it in Week 9 of the 2021 season.
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