First things first. It's the Takeaway Pencil, not the Turnover Pencil.
At Akron, this is an important distinction.
"See when you get a turnover, it's almost like the offense is giving you the ball," Zips cornerback Jordyn Riley said. "Us as a defense, we like to create takeaways."
The implication the offense had anything to do with it is swept aside. If an offensive player made an error, it's because an Akron defensive player forced him into it. End of story.
That's the idea, at least, and that's how Riley ended up as the first recipient of Akron's Takeaway Pencil, the newest in-game trophy to make its mark on college football.