Following Big Ten football games on Nov. 23, the offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week and freshman of the week in the Big Ten were announced this morning. Below are this week’s honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week

Steve Hull, Illinois

Sr., WR, Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore

•           Caught a career-high 10 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns, helping Illinois defeat Purdue 20-16 on Saturday

•           Recorded his third straight 100-yard receiving game, totaling 498 yards and five touchdowns during that span

•           Found the end zone on a three-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter before notching his second score on a 30-yard grab in the second quarter

•           Records the first Offensive Player of the Week award of his career

•           Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Nathan Scheelhaase (Sept. 2, 2013)

Defensive Player of the Week

Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

Jr., LB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation

•           Achieved a pair of program records against Indiana, recording 16 solo tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss in the victory

•           Finished the day with a career-best 20 tackles, which included a sack, a forced fumble and a  pass breakup

•           Became the first Buckeye with 20 tackles since A.J. Hawk in 2004, matched the 16 solo stops set by Tom Cousineau in 1978 and tied the 5.0 TFLs held by four other Buckeyes, achieved most recently by John Simon in 2012

•           Tied the Big Ten record for most career Defensive Player of the Week honors (five) and most in a single season (three)

•           Last Ohio State Defensive Player of the Week: Ryan Shazier (Nov. 18, 2013)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Pat Smith, Nebraska

Sr., K, Quincy, Ill./Notre Dame

•           Kicked the game-tying and game-winning field goals in Nebraska’s 23-20 overtime road victory against Penn State last Saturday

•           Connected on a 19-yard try in the fourth quarter to even the score at 20-20 before booting a 42-yarder in overtime to give the Huskers the victory

•           Also converted on a 39-yarder late in the third quarter and made both extra point tries

•           Claims his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honor

•           Last Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Week: Brett Maher (Nov. 12, 2012)

Co-Freshmen of the Week

Ralphael Green III, Indiana

DT, San Antonio, Texas/Sam Houston

•           Finished with four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack against nationally ranked Ohio State last Saturday

•           Recorded his first career sack and forced his first career fumble on the same play late in the opening quarter

•           Wins his first Freshman of the Week award

•           Last Indiana Freshman of the Week: Nate Sudfeld (Sept. 17, 2012)

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

QB, Palmyra, Va./Fork Union Military Academy

•           Accounted for three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground, against Nebraska last Saturday

•           Threw for 217 yards, including touchdown passes of two and 46 yards, and now has 2,616 yards passing this season, which ranks fifth on Penn State’s single-season list

•           Also rushed for a seven-yard score in the third quarter

•           Wins his fourth Freshman of the Week award, which is tied for second since the award began in 2010

•           Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Christian Hackenberg (Oct. 14, 2013)