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Tailbacks highlight Week 5 B1G award winners
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If a tailback averages a first-down per carry, that’s a very good thing. Usually some hardware is in store for a game like that. That was the story for Ohio State running back Mike Weber.
If a tailbacks averages 29 yards per carry, some postgame hardware is a guarantee. That was the story for Maryland running back Ty Johnson.
Both tailbacks were about as efficient as can be in blowout victories. As a result, both picked up weekly B1G awards.
Weber’s 14-carry, 144-yard effort in a rout of Rutgers earned him B1G Freshman of the Week honors. He racked up his career-high with runs of 49 and 46 yards, the latter went for a touchdown. Weber currently leads the B1G with 123.8 rushing yards per contest.
Johnson picked up B1G Offensive Player of the Week honors for recording a career-high 204 rushing yards on just seven carries. The sophomore tailback had two touchdowns in the Terps’ rout of Purdue. He accounted for half of Maryland’s 400 yards rushing.
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On the defensive side, that award was a split decision.
Northwestern defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo earned co-B1G Defensive Player of the Week honors for his four-sack effort in a win at Iowa. That was the highest sack total from a B1G player since 2012. It was also the senior’s first weekly award.
Penn State’s Marcus Allen shared co-B1G Defensive Player of the Week honors for his incredible 22-tackle day in a thrilling win against Minnesota. That was the most tackles by a B1G Defensive Player since Wisconsin’s Mike Taylor had 22 in 2011. That was the highest total for a Lion in 11 years.
The B1G Special Teams Player of the Week honor was also for a performance in State College on Saturday. Minnesota kicker Emmit Carpenter earned the weekly award for making all four field-goal attempts, two of which were go-ahead scores. The sophomore was the first Gopher to make four kicks on the road in 19 years.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.