Ducks Noah Sewell Named Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year

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In a year where the Oregon defense was mocked at times on social media by fans, Noah Sewell was a bright spot throughout the season.

His play in 2020 earned him the Pac-12’s Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.

Sewell started his Ducks career with four-plus tackles, including a tackle for loss, in four of his first five games. He also had a pair of sacks and forced a fumble.

Sewell is also the second straight Oregon freshman to win the award after Kayvon Thibodeaux won in it in 2019.

He led the Pac-12 freshman in tackles with 38 and tackles for loss with five.

Sewell joins Troy Dye as the only two Ducks freshman to have double-digit tackles and at least two tackles for loss in a game since the turn of the century.

There were five honorable mentions for the award including Oregon State defensive back Alex Austin.