RICHMOND - University at Albany junior linebacker Dillon Dunathan has been named the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Football Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in the Great Danes' season opener against New Hampshire.
 
Dunathan, from Demascus, Md., anchored the UAlbany defense under the Friday night lights, putting together a strong stat line with eight total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and a clutch end-zone interception. With UNH threatening at the start of the fourth quarter, Dunathan stepped up to pick off the Wildcats in the end zone, bringing the drive to a grinding halt and delivering one of the game's defining defensive highlights.
 
The defense as a whole kept UNH to just 297 yards of total offense, with only 62 rushing yards.
 
The award marks the first CAA weekly honor of Dunathan's career and the first for the Great Danes in the 2026 season under head coach Tom Perkovich.
 
UAlbany returns to action this Thursday, Sept. 3, as the Great Danes travel west to take on FBS foe University at Buffalo. Kickoff against the Bulls is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
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