Following Big Ten football games on Sept. 21, 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 Co-Players of the Week
Kenny Guiton, Ohio State
Sr., QB, Houston, Texas/Eisenhower
• Threw six touchdowns, an Ohio State record and the second-most in Big Ten single-game history, in Ohio State’s victory over Florida A&M
• Completed 24 of 34 passes for 215 yards while playing the first half only in his second career start
• Connected with five different receivers on his six touchdown throws, including his second to Evan Spencer with 13 seconds left in the first half to set the program record
• Records his second career weekly honor and second in as many weeks
• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Kenny Guiton (Sept. 16, 2013)
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
So., RB, Kenosha, Wis./Bradford
• Finished with 147 yards and a career-best three touchdowns on just 16 carries, an average of 9.2 yards per carry, in Wisconsin’s victory over Purdue
• Scored on a five-yard run in the first quarter, a 27-yard sprint in the third and a 15-yarder in the third
• Rushed for 140 yards or more in his fourth straight contest and leads the nation with 624 yards and 156.0 yards per game
• Records his first career weekly honor
• Last Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Week: Montee Ball (Nov. 12, 2012)
Defensive Player of the Week
B.J. Lowery, Iowa
Sr., DB, Cincinnati, Ohio/Hughes
• Set a school record by returning two interceptions for touchdowns and added four tackles in Iowa’s win over Western Michigan
• With under a minute left in the second quarter, returned a pass 35 yards to the end zone, before returning his second pick 13 yards for a score with 12:22 to go in the third
• Became the second Big Ten player to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a game this season, following Northwestern’s Collin Ellis in Week 1
• Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: Tom Nardo (Sept. 26, 2011)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Kevonte Martin-Manley, Iowa
Jr., WR, Pontiac, Mich./Brother Rice
• Became just the third player in Big Ten history to record two punt return touchdowns in a game in Iowa’s victory over Western Michigan
• On consecutive attempts in the second quarter, returned a punt 83 yards for a score then a second 63 yards for a score
• His 184 punt return yards are second most in a single game in Big Ten history, behind former Hawkeye Nile Kinnick’s 201 yards in 1939
• Wins his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honor
• Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week: Mike Meyer (Oct. 15, 2012)
Freshman of the Week
Mitch Leidner, Minnesota
QB, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South
• In his first career start, combined for 222 yards of total offense and four rushing scores in Minnesota’s win over San Jose State
• Rushed for 151 yards on 24 carries and tied the Minnesota record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single game
• Wins his first career Freshman of the Week accolade
• Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Philip Nelson (Oct. 29, 2012)