Idaho State linebacker Kody Graves was named the ROOT Sports Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week, announced Monday.

Graves recorded a career-high 14 tackles and his first career interception Saturday in ISU’s upset win at No. 22 North Dakota. Graves and the Bengals’ defense held UND to 150 yards and no points in the second half, helping Idaho State beat its first ranked opponent since 2015.

Graves’ career-high tackle performance was his second in as many weeks.

The redshirt junior from Nampa tallied a then-career-best 11 tackles Sept. 15 in ISU’s 45-23 loss at California.

For the season, Graves has 25 tackles, one interception, a sack and a tackle for loss. He did not play in ISU’s season-opening win against Western State Colorado.

Graves is Idaho State’s first defensive player of the week since former linebacker Mario Jenkins earned the honor last season following the Bengals’ upset win at Nevada.

“The best thing about Kody is he’s very intelligent,” ISU defensive coordinator Roger Cooper said Monday. “He cares a lot about football and he cares a lot about his team ... he does his job every snap. He’s very consistent.”