The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Esonwune, Delange Earn American Conference Player of the Week Honors
9/14/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB linebacker Ike Esonwune and placekicker Jonah Delange have been named American Conference Players of the Week following standout performances in the Blazers' 26-20 victory over ULM, the league announced Monday.
Esonwune was named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, while Delange earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
The awards give UAB multiple American weekly award winners from the same game for the first time this season and mark a significant first for Esonwune. The redshirt junior is the first UAB player to earn American Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors since the Blazers joined the league in 2023. UAB did not have a defensive weekly award winner in its first three seasons in the conference.
Esonwune finished with 10 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup to help UAB erase a 10-point second-half deficit and hold ULM scoreless over the final 25:24 of the game.
His biggest play came with UAB protecting a 23-20 lead late in the fourth quarter. With ULM having crossed midfield, Esonwune intercepted Austin Carlisle with 5:50 remaining and returned the ball three yards. The takeaway was UAB's first of the season and allowed the Blazers to put together an 11-play, 41-yard drive that drained 4:40 from the clock before Delange's final field goal.
Esonwune has recorded 15 tackles through his first two games as a Blazer, including five in the season opener at Illinois. He transferred to UAB after spending three seasons at Oklahoma State, where he recorded 31 tackles during the 2025 campaign.
Delange was equally instrumental in the victory, accounting for a game-high 14 points while finishing a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on PATs. He connected from 41, 45, 34 and 42 yards, including three field goals from 40 yards or longer.
His final kick, a 42-yarder with 1:10 remaining, stretched UAB's advantage to 26-20 and provided the final margin.
Through two games, Delange is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points, scoring 25 of UAB's 49 points. He leads the nation with 3.5 made field goals per game and is tied for the national lead with a 1.000 field-goal percentage.
Monday's honor is the second American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week award of Delange's career. He previously earned the award on Oct. 21, 2024, after making four field goals at South Florida. He went on to be named the 2024 American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Delange is now 38-of-45 (84.4 percent) on field goals for his career and has made all 64 career PAT attempts. He has connected on 16-of-19 field goals from 40 yards or longer (84.2 percent) and is 2-for-2 from 50-plus yards.
The senior also continues to climb the UAB record book. His 38 career field goals are one shy of Kevin Thomason for sixth in program history, while his 178 career kicking points rank seventh. Delange is also just eight points shy of tying Jermaine Brown Jr. for 10th in UAB history in career scoring.
Delange's honor is UAB's first American Special Teams Player of the Week award since Solomon Beebe on Sept. 15, 2025. Beebe earned the award after returning a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown against Akron. The Blazers only earned two player of the week honors last season.
UAB (1-1) returns to action Saturday, Sept. 19, when the Blazers travel to Lafayette to face Louisiana.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
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