National Honors For Weaver After Washington Win
BERKELEY – Senior inside linebacker Evan Weaver has been named the National Defensive Player of the Week by both Walter Camp and College Sports Madness for his performance in Cal's 20-19 victory at No. 14/12 Washington on late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning. He is also one of seven nominees for the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week that includes a fan vote to help select the winner.
Weaver equaled a career-high with 18 tackles against the Huskies to including 14 solo stops to extend his string of consecutive double-digit tackle games to nine. He also added 2.0 tackles for loss (-5 yards) and one forced fumble.
Weaver is the first Cal player on the defensive side of the ball to win the College Sports Madness honor and the second from Walter Camp following Jordan Kunaszyk in 2017 after the Golden Bears' victory over then No. 8/9 Washington State.
Below are notes on Weaver with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.
Evan Weaver, ILB, 6-3, 245, Sr., 3L, Spokane, WA (Gonzaga Prep)
Cal Career (2016 – Present)
• Has played in 38 of 39 possible games with 19 starts since his arrival at Cal in 2016 and posted career totals highlighted by 260 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss (-57 yards), 6.0 sacks (-35 yards), two interceptions that he has returned for 47 yards and one touchdown on a career-long 37-yard return against Washington as a 2018 junior, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble and two quarterback hurries
• Moved into 10th on the school's all-time list of tacklers after the 18-tackle performance and is now ranked ninth
Senior (2019)
• Tied for first in the nation in solo tackles with 20 (10.0 per game) and second in total tackles (30, 15.0 per game)
• Had a career-high-tying 18 tackles (14 solo) against Washington after 12 (six solo) in the season opener against UC Davis
• A Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week nominee after his performances against both the Huskies and Aggies
• First Cal player to earn first-team preseason All-American honors (Athlon) since Jahvid Best in 2009
• Second-team preseason All-American (Associated Press, Phil Steele, Pro Football Focus, Sports Illustrated)
• First-team preseason All-Pac-12 (Athlon, Lindy's, Pac-12, Phil Steele, Pro Football Focus, Street & Smith)
• On watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Butkus Award®
• Nation's leading returning tackler with 159 in 2018
Junior (2018)
• Second-team All-American (Pro Football Focus)
• First-team (Associated Press, Pro Football Focus) and second-team (Athlon, Pac-12 Coaches, Phil Steele) All-Pac-12
• Recipient of Cal's Bear Backers Award as the team's Co-Most Valuable Defensive Player
• Recorded career highs of 159 tackles to rank tied for second on Cal's all-time single-season list, 9.5 tackles for loss (-42 yards), 4.5 sacks (-28 yards), and two interceptions that he returned for 47 yards and his lone career touchdown
• Tied for fifth nationally with 6.4 solo tackles per game and eighth in total tackles with 11.9 per contest