MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho redshirt junior linebacker Charles Akanno added his second national award of the week Monday, and was honored by the Big Sky. Akanno was named the STATS LLC FCS National Defensive Player of the Week and earned ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week. Akanno helped the Vandals to a 35-27 win Saturday, against No. 11 Eastern Washington.
 
Akanno recorded career highs of nine tackles and three pass breakups to go with a forced fumble and three quarterback hurries, while assisting on a tackle for loss. The Vandals went on to record their first win since 1999 against a team ranked No. 11 or better in any national poll.
 
The Big Sky honor makes Akanno the first Idaho football student-athlete to earn defensive player of the week honors from a conference since Kaden Elliss in 2016 (Sun Belt). Akanno is Idaho's first Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week since 1995, when Avery Slaughter and Barry Mitchell each took home one weekly award.
 
Akanno was named the College Sports Madness FCS National Defensive Player of the Week Sunday.
 
The Vandals open Big Sky Conference play Saturday, at Northern Colorado. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT/noon PT and will be televised by Eleven Sports.