B1G announces Players of the Week following Week 0 action
The Week 0 action of the college football season is in the books, and the B1G has dished out Player of the Week honors among the 3 teams that played on the season’s opening Saturday.
On the field, Northwestern produced a 31-28 comeback win over Nebraska in Dublin. Back in the US, Illinois routed Wyoming with a balanced attack and stout defense.
Here are the players honored:
Co-Offensive Players of the Week
- RB Chase Brown, Illinois
- QB Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern
Brown rolled through Wyoming time and time again while racking up 151 rushing yards and eclipsing 2,000 rushing yards for his career. He also produced 3 touchdowns to lead the Illini.
Hilinski shredded the Huskers in Ireland, completing 27-of-38 passes for 314 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception. He is the first Wildcat QB to produce such numbers without an interception since 2005 and was an astounding 20-for-23 at halftime.
#B1GFootball 𝗖𝗼-𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
🟠 Chase Brown, @IlliniFootball
😼 Ryan Hilinski, @NUFBFamilyMore on their accomplishments 🗞️ https://t.co/mESUrVMbxz pic.twitter.com/COUExtpjac
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 29, 2022
Defensive Player of the Week
- DB Cameron Mitchell, Northwestern
Mitchell led a Northwestern defense that intercepted Nebraska QB Casey Thompson twice. Mitchell recorded his 2nd career interception in the 4th quarter and set up the eventual game-winning touchdown for Northwestern.
Mitchell finished the game with 2 pass breakups and 6 tackles.
#B1GFootball 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸: Cameron Mitchell, @NUFBFamily
Mitchell recorded his second-career interception in the fourth quarter and returned it 42 yards, setting up the eventual game-winning TD. 🗞️ https://t.co/mESUrVMbxz pic.twitter.com/XrVX5tybXv
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 29, 2022
Special Teams Player of the Week
- P Luke Ayers, Northwestern
Ayers downed 4 punts inside the 20-yard line with 3 downed inside the 10-yard line on 6 total punts. He averaged just under 41 yards per punt and produced a clutch punt to pin Nebraska at the 4-yard line with less than 3 minutes to play in the game.
#B1GFootball 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸: Luke Akers, @NUFBFamily
Akers downed four punts inside the 20, including three pinned inside the 10-yard line on six attempts. 🗞️ https://t.co/mESUrVMbxz pic.twitter.com/aov3bWqeFU
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 29, 2022