Norfolk State return specialist Jason Wonodi has added two national honors to an already memorable week.
Wonodi was named the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and the BOXTOROW HBCU National Player of the Week after delivering a record-setting performance in Norfolk State’s 42-21 victory over Hampton in the 61st Battle of the Bay.
The redshirt senior from Brockton, Massachusetts, returned three punts for a school-record 170 yards, averaging 56.7 yards per return.
Two of those returns went for touchdowns.
Wonodi broke loose for a 76-yard touchdown with 6:42 remaining in the second quarter, giving Norfolk State a 19-14 lead it would never surrender. The return was the Spartans’ first punt-return touchdown since 2018 and tied for the fourth-longest punt return in program history.
He struck again in the fourth quarter, taking a punt 57 yards to the end zone with 2:59 remaining to cap a run of 32 unanswered Norfolk State points.
His first punt return of the afternoon also helped set up Norfolk State’s opening touchdown, as Wonodi’s 37-yard return put the Spartans at the Hampton 28-yard line.
In addition to his punt-return production, Wonodi recorded an 18-yard kickoff return.
His performance established Norfolk State single-game records for both punt-return yards and punt-return average, surpassing the previous marks of 157 yards and 39.3 yards per return, respectively.
Wonodi entered the week leading the FCS with 246 punt-return yards and tied for the national lead with two punt-return touchdowns. His 30.8-yard punt-return average ranked second nationally.
The national honors are actually Wonodi’s third weekly award of the week. He was also named the MEAC Specialist of the Week on Monday.
With Wonodi providing a game-changing threat in the return game, Norfolk State improved to 2-2 and secured its first home victory over Hampton at William “Dick” Price Stadium since 2015.
The Spartans return to action Saturday, Sept. 26, against Chicago State at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago.
