Story courtesy of the Big Ten Conference
Photo courtesy of Nebraska Athletics
The offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week and freshman of the week in the Big Ten for games on Oct. 20 were announced this morning. Below are this week's honorees:
Offensive Player of the Week
Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
Jr., QB, Corona, Calif./Centennial
• Accounted for 407 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to help Nebraska to a 29-28 road victory against Northwestern on Saturday
• Engineered two fourth-quarter scoring drives, erasing a 12-point deficit and tying the largest fourth-quarter comeback in school history
• Threw for 342 yards, the second-most of his career, and three touchdowns on 27 completions, adding 65 yards on the ground and a score
• Wins his fourth career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award and third this season
• Last Nebraska Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Martinez (Oct. 1, 2012)
Defensive Player of the Week
Jordan Hill, Penn State
Sr., DT, Steelton, Pa./Steelton-Highspire
• Recorded a season-high nine tackles in Penn State’s 38-14 victory at Iowa on Saturday
• Credited with two tackles for loss, including one sack, and a quarterback hurry
• Was part of the Penn State defense that held Iowa to 209 yards, including 20 yards on the ground and 2-for-12 on third down
• Wins the first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award of his career
• Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Gerald Hodges (Oct. 8, 2012)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Brendan Gibbons, Michigan
Jr., K, West Palm Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman
• Was a perfect three-for-three in field goal attempts against Michigan State, booting the game-winning field goal with five seconds remaining
• Converted on attempts from 21, 24 and 38 yards, the latter of which clinched the 12-10 victory to help Michigan reclaim the Paul Bunyan Trophy
• Has made seven consecutive field goal attempts and ranks eighth all-time in school history with 24 field goals
• Wins his first Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week award
• Last Michigan Special Teams Player of the Week: Zoltan Mesko (Oct. 11, 2009)
Freshman of the Week
Kyle Carter, Penn State
TE, Bear, Del./William Penn
• Hauled in six catches, tying his career high, for a career-best 85 yards in his first start for Penn State
• All six catches came in the first half, helping the Penn State offense score 24 unanswered points to begin the game
• Wins his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade
• Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Deion Barnes (Sept. 17, 2012)