ST. LOUIS – After spearheading a second-half shutout in Missouri State's road victory over No. 24 Indiana State, Dylan Cole has been selected Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Sunday.

Additionally, the senior linebacker was named National Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness Sunday on the heels of his dominant effort that helped Missouri State lock up a 45-24 win over the Sycamores Saturday in Terre Haute.

Cole sparked a defensive resurgence by the Bears (3-1, 1-0 MVFC) that ultimately lifted the Bears to just their second victory in a conference opener since 2004. Thanks in large part to the co-captain's 13 tackles, the MSU defense held ISU's high-powered offense to 116 second-half yards, while forcing three key turnovers in the fourth quarter to seal the Bears' first road win over a ranked opponent in four years. Cole, who moved into the Bears' all-time top 10 for career tackles in the victory, accounted for two of MSU's late takeaways, picking off a pass and forcing a fumble to help wrap up the Bears' first MVFC win since October 2014.

Through four games, Cole leads the Bears with 35 total tackles, with his 8.8 tackles per game average ranks third in the MVFC. Additionally, he shares the Valley lead with his two interceptions, which is good for the No. 21 per-game average (0.5) nationally.

One of 30 NCAA Division I FCS players cited for preseason All-America recognition by STATS this season, Cole was also tabbed for STATS' FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List. The Rogersville, Mo., product was also picked for the Reese's Senior Bowl 2017 Watch List and was named a preseason All-MVFC choice after earning first-team all-conference honors last fall, when he led the Valley and ranked third in the FCS in tackling.

Off to their first 1-0 start in MVFC play since 2013, the Bears return home next Saturday for a 2 p.m. MVFC contest against No. 1 North Dakota State, during which Missouri State will honor its 1966 MIAA championship squad. Tickets for the game, which start at just $10 for an adult bleacher seat, are available online at MissouriStateBears.com/Tickets, by calling (417) 836-7678, or visiting the Old Missouri Bank Ticket Window at JQH Arena during normal box office hours.