Rose Bowl announces co-Big Ten Players of the Week for Week 8

Which games stood out in the Big Ten world of college football this past week? Penn State beating Michigan could prove to be massive down the road.

Wisconsin losing to Illinois? That was an absolute shocker.

But, what about the players? Who stood out?

On Monday, the Rose Bowl announced its co-Big Ten Players of the Week:

🔸 Tallied a game-high 16 tackles in the win over Wisconsin, 24-23
🔸 Recovered a fumble and had one tackle for loss
🔸 Led Illinois to its first win over a top-10 opponent since 2007
🔸 #RoseBowl co-@bigten Player of the Week!

Congrats to @IlliniFootball LB, Dele Harding! pic.twitter.com/LBQSxUHsQo

— Rose Bowl Game (@rosebowlgame) October 21, 2019

🚣 Held two extra points the Gophers’ 42-7 victory over Rutgers
🚣 Is a four-time cancer survivor
🚣 Served as the student-athlete speaker at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon in July
🚣 #RoseBowl co-@bigten Player of the Week!

Congrats to @GopherFootball H, Casey O'Brien! pic.twitter.com/ciVzxZ7vxG

— Rose Bowl Game (@rosebowlgame) October 21, 2019

Illinois linebacker Dele Harding had a phenomenal game against Wisconsin, which helped lead the Fighting Illini to pulling the shocker of the weekend. Harding had a game-high 16 tackles while recovering a fumble aiding in the 24-23 victory.

For Minnesota, the Gophers are now 7-0 overall and are one of three unbeaten teams in the B1G. Why? Partially thanks to holder Casey O’Brien. He held two extra point attempts in the team’s win over Rutgers.

And while that, for some, may not seem to fill the stat sheet, O’Brien helping his team on the field is one thing. But off the field, he has helped them in a way we probably can’t comprehend.

O’Brien was the student-athlete speaker during the Big Ten Media Days luncheon this past offseason and is a four-time cancer survivor. Even if he kicked 32 field goals and ran for 761 yards in a single game this season, it wouldn’t match up to what he has been able to do off the field.

The Rose Bowl recognizes that.