Offensive Player of the Week

Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois

Sr., QB, Kansas City, Mo./Rockhurst

·         Threw for a career-high 416 yards and two touchdowns in Illinois’ season-opening win over Southern Illinois

·         Completed 28 of 36 passes, a 77.8 percent clip, and climbed into fourth on Illinois’ career total offense list with 7,480 yards

·         Connected with Josh Ferguson for 53 yards and Jon Davis for 11 yards for two second-quarter touchdowns

·         Records his second career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor, the first coming as a freshman on Nov. 1, 2010

·         Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: A.J. Jenkins (Oct. 3, 2011)

 

Defensive Player of the Week

Collin Ellis, Northwestern

Jr., LB, St. Gabriel, La./The Dunham School

·         Became the first player in school history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in Northwestern’s road win against California

·         Recorded his first interception in the third quarter, returning it 56 yards to give Northwestern the lead

·         Intercepted his second pass midway through the fourth quarter, scampering 40 yards to the end zone to increase the Wildcat lead to 10 points

·         Also finished with four tackles, including one for loss

·         Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor

·         Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Chi Chi Ariguzo (Sept. 10, 2012)

 

Special Teams Player of the Week

Sam Ficken, Penn State

Jr., K, Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso

·         Was perfect in his kicking duties, converting all three field goals and both PAT attempts in Penn State’s 23-17 win over Syracuse

·         Was successful on kicks from 36, 35 and 46 yards, the latter of which was a career long in the fourth quarter

·         Has made 13 straight field-goal attempts dating back to the 2012 season

·         Wins his second career Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honor after being honored on Nov. 26, 2012

·         Last Penn State Special Teams Player of the Week: Sam Ficken (Nov. 26, 2012)

 

Freshman of the Week

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

QB, Palmyra, Va./Fork Union Military Academy

·         Threw for 278 yards on 22 completions and two touchdowns in his Penn State debut, guiding the Nittany Lions to a 23-17 win over Syracuse

·         The second true freshman quarterback to start a Penn State season opener since 1910, Hackenberg connected on two touchdown strikes of 50 or more yards in the second half

·         Teamed with Allen Robinson for a 51-yard score in the third quarter and Eugene Lewis on a 54-yard strike in the fourth

·         Wins his first career weekly award

·         Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Kyle Carter (Oct. 22, 2012)