Towalid wins national award

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- - Indiana State senior Johnny Towalid has been named the College Football Performance Awards FCS Defensive Back Of The Year by the national organization. Towalid shared the honor with Missouri State's Caleb Schaffitzel.

Towalid was earlier this season named a Second Team Associated Press All-American as well as Third Team All-American by The Sports Network. Additionally, he was named A First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honoree.

He set a new Indiana State record with three interception returns for a touchdown while also setting the school record with two pick 6's in a game at No. 1 North Dakota State as well as the career record with four. He was named the MVFC and National Defensive Player Of The Week for his two interception returns for a touchdown against the Bison and paced the team with five interceptions on the season, which tied for second-best in the MVFC and ranked tied for eighth nationally. Towalid recorded 34 total tackles, including one for a loss and broke up nine passes, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick. He had a season-best six tackles at North Dakota State and posted multiple tackles in 10-of-11 games.

This mark the second consecutive season in which a Sycamore has been honored by the CFPA as a national player of the year. Shakir Bell was named the organization's National Running Back Of The Year in 2011.