Erik Rask named finalist for Ivy Defensive Player of the Year

A two-time first team All-Ivy selection, Penn senior linebacker Erik Rask was selected as one of two finalists for the Asa A. Bushnell Cup Defensive Player of the Year award.

Read the full DP article on Rask's nomination here.

While the award was previously given to just one player, this year the Ivy League will give out two MVP awards — one for offense, and one for defense. Rask is up against Harvard lineman Josue Ortiz.

Rask had 83 tackles this season, 11.5 for losses, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, a recovery, two interceptions — one returned for his first career touchdown.

Ortiz tallied 38 tackles and 10 sacks, with one forced fumble and recovery. He averaged 5.9 yards lost per sack.

Dartmouth running back Nick Schweiger (one of the 2010 recipients of the award) is a finalist again, along with Cornell ace quarterback Jeff Matthews, who broke the single-season and single-game passing records in a win over Penn this year.

The winners will be announced Monday morning at a ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York.