Hunter Echols Earns Pac-12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week

TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona defensive end Hunter Echols earns Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week in the Pac-12 as announced by the conference office today. Echols shares the award with Oregon's Brandon Dorlus.

It's the second time this season that an Arizona defensive lineman has won this award after Jalen Harris took home the honor following a Week-1 win over San Diego State. It marks the first player of the week award for Echols. He is the third Wildcat to win this award since it began prior to the 2019 season (Kyon Barrs, Jalen Harris, Hunter Echols). 

The Arizona Wildcats upended the North Dakota Bison 31-28 on Saturday and a pivotal moment in the victory was Echols forced fumble on a sack of Bison QB Cam Miller.

NDSU was driving into Arizona territory at the 17-yard line in the second quarter, but that drive came to a halt when Echols beat his blocker to the quarterback on 2nd and 5 and forced a fumble for the first time in his career to turn the Bison away.

Arizona followed the turnover with a 10-play 83-yard drive and grabbed a 14-7 lead on a seven-yard TD run by quarterback Jayden de Laura.

Echols finished with eight tackles including two tackles for a loss of 13 yards, and one sack, alongside his pivotal forced fumble that was recovered by linebacker Jerry Roberts. He earned a game ball after the victory. The two tackles for loss marked a single-game career high. 

The transfer from USC has produced 19.0 tackles (10 solo, 9 assists) including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks so far this season. Echols has made 69 total tackles including 8.5 tackles for loss through 41 games played in his collegiate career. 

The Wildcats are back in action at California on Saturday, Sept. 24. Kickoff is scheduled at 2:30 p.m., and the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.