B1G announces Players of the Week following Week 1 action
It was a wild Week 1 of college football, and the B1G was not exempt from that.
The Purdue Boilermakers held a 17-point lead over the Nevada Wolfpack, but ended up dropping the game, 34-31. The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Minnesota Golden Gophers each held on for narrow wins over their opponents, South Alabama and South Dakota State, respectively.
There were some impressive performances, too. The Ohio State Buckeyes scored four touchdowns in the first nine minutes of their game en route to a 45-21 win over the FAU Owls. Making the trip to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the Wisconsin Badgers routed the USF Bulls, 49-0.
As it will every week, the B1G had the task of filtering through all this action and selecting the league’s Players of the Week.
Here are the players who received recognition:
Offensive Player of the Week:
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
RB Jonathan Taylor from @BadgerFootball is the #B1GFootball Offensive Player of the Week after becoming the first Big Ten standout with at least 2 rushing & 2 receiving TDs in the same game since 2010 pic.twitter.com/3yVbFGkfny
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 2, 2019
Defensive Player of the Week:
Kenny Willekes, DE, Michigan State
After scoring his first career TD and adding 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks and 7 tackles, @MSU_Football DE Kenny Willekes is the #B1GFootball Defensive Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/sdWMoXqXr5
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 2, 2019
Special Teams Player of the Week:
Logan Justus, K, Indiana
The #B1GFootball Special Teams Player of the Week is @IndianaFootball K Logan Justus, who went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including kicks from 48, 49 and 50 yards. pic.twitter.com/xKXPzoHsQ8
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 2, 2019
Freshman of the Week:
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Indiana
QB Michael Penix Jr. from @IndianaFootball is the #B1GFootball Freshman of the Week after becoming the first IU freshman quarterback to record more than 300 passing yards in his first start since Antwaan Randle El in 1998. pic.twitter.com/vAj5mOLFe6
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 2, 2019