Complete D3football.com Team of the Week

TACOMA, Wash. — The awards continued to roll in for Pacific Lutheran University defensive end Cole Becker, earning a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week on Tuesday.

It's the second award the Lake Stevens, Washington native has won this week after earning Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week laurels on Monday afternoon.

Becker was among the 26 players— 11 offense, 11 defense, and four specialists— from across the 241 NCAA Division III football institutions to be recognized and was the lone student-athlete to make the team this week from the Pacific Time Zone.
 
The junior play a pivotal role in PLU's 31-28 comeback win over Willamette University on Saturday, finishing with eight tackles and three sacks. That included a sack-fumble and recovery in the third quarter which set the Lute offensive up at the eight-yard line, a drive PLU would score on to close within a single touchdown after trailing by as many as 21 points.

When the game was in the balance, Becker and the defense stepped up to the challenge, forcing four turnovers on the day and holding Willamette to just 13 total yards in the fourth quarter, including negative four rushing yards. 
 
Also a member of the PLU baseball team, the two-sport star is the second Lute this season to earn a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week. Teammate Connor Meade was named to the weekly squad back on Sept. 16. 
 
Becker is the 22nd Lute to win the honor over the 27 seasons D3football.com has sponsored the team and marks the first time since 2022 the Lutes have had multiple players secure the award during the same season. That year, linebacker Ashton Barton (week 6), cornerback Jared Elwin (week 5), and punter Max Boekenoogen (week 9) all landed on the team.
 
The Lutes (2-2, 1-0 NWC) are back on the gridiron on Saturday for the 101st meeting with crosstown rival University of Puget Sound. Kickoff at UPS's Baker Stadium is set for 1 p.m.