BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University true freshman safety Hunter Bohannon has been named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in SMSU's 34-24 road victory over Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday afternoon.
 
Bohannon, a 6-foot, 190-pound native of Del Mar, Calif., made his first career start on Saturday and recorded an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to open a 10-point lead for the Mustangs. He also had a pass break-up and registered five tackles, including a half a tackle for loss.
 
SMSU held a 20-17 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter with CSP facing second-and-11 from the SMSU 27-yard line. CSP quarterback Connor Cordts was hit as he threw by SMSU defensive end Rickey Jones with Bohannon intercepting the pass at the 20-yard line and sprinting to the end zone for SMSU's first interception return for a touchdown since Onte Burns at Upper Iowa on Sept. 28, 2019.  
 
Bohannon is a 2021 graduate of Westview High School.
 
Southwest Minnesota State (1-3 NSIC) will open NSIC South Division play on Saturday with a 3 p.m. match-up at Upper Iowa University in Fayette.