Howard’s Keith Pough has been honored as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week following his latest play against Norfolk State. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound red-shirt sophomore linebacker from Orangeburg, S.C., was also named the College Football Performance Award National FCS Defensive Player of the Week for the outstanding performance, marking the second consecutive week Pough has been honored for the national award.
Pough led a stout Bison defense that limited Norfolk’s explosive offense to only 10 points during Howard’s homecoming celebration game on Oct. 31.
“Our defense played well,” Bison coach Carey Bailey said. “We have some young players like Keith who are stepping for us.”
Pough stepped up and recorded 13 solo tackles, 5 tackles for losses and a pass defense in the Bison’s 10-9 loss to NSU.
Pough currently leads both the MEAC and the entire NCAA in tackles for losses with 26 in eight games, making him a strong candidate to earn MEAC Defensive Player of the Year. He also ranks 15th in the nation in sacks with 6.5, 28th in total tackles (99) and is on pace to become the school’s all-time leader in tackles for losses (currently has 38.5 in 17 career games.)