Zach McNees - CCIW Defensive Player of the Week

McNees Selected as CCIW’s Defensive Player of the Week

Third weekly conference honor of his career

9/30/2024 2:00:00 PM

CCIW Release

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - On the heels of the Illinois Wesleyan University football team's home-opening victory, senior defensive lineman Zach McNees (Hillsboro, Mo.-Hillsboro) was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin's Defensive Player of the Week Monday afternoon, Sept. 30. McNees is the first Titan to garner the conference's defensive award, while he marks the second straight week in which an IWU student-athlete has been recognized by the league office (Dermot Smyth - Sept. 23, 2024).

McNees was a menace behind the line of scrimmage in Illinois Wesleyan's 35-0 home-opening win over Carthage, Sept. 28. The Hillsboro, Mo. native finished with six tackles, three of which resulted in a loss of yardage. His 3.0 sacks in the game are the most by a player in the CCIW this season, while he led IWU to its first shutout since the 2022 campaign. The returning All-CCIW selection was also credited with two quarterback hurries as he led a front four that kept steady pressure on the Carthage QB all day long. With the win, IWU moved to 2-1 on the year and 2-0 in league play. It marks IWU's best start to the season since 2018.

McNees and the Titans remain at home this weekend, Oct. 5, for a Homecoming contest against Washington University in St. Louis. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Tucci Stadium.

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