Following Big Ten football games on Nov. 23, the Offensive, Co-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 Player of the Week
Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
So., QB, Potomac, Md./Bullis School
Led Buckeyes to 62-39 victory over Michigan by throwing for 396 yards and six touchdown passes as Ohio State claimed a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game
Completed 20 of 31 passes as he directed Ohio State to 567 yards of total offense against the nation’s No. 1 defensive unit
Set Big Ten Conference single-season record for passing yards (4,081) topping Curtis Painter’s 2006 record of 3,985
Set Big Ten Conference single-season record for touchdown passes with 42, surpassing Drew Brees’ 20-year old mark of 39, set in 1998
Moved to within 64 yards of Denard Robinson’s Big Ten record for single-season total offense with 4,208 as Robinson had 4,272 in 2010
Claimed his sixth career Offensive Player of the Week award and sixth of the season, setting the Big Ten record for a single-season, breaking a tie with fellow Buckeye quarterback Troy Smith, set in Smith’s Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 2006
Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Dwayne Haskins (Nov. 19, 2018)
Co-Defensive Players of the Week
Anthony Nelson, Iowa
Jr., DE, Urbandale, Iowa/Waukee
Posted a career-high eight tackles along with two sacks and two tackles for loss in Iowa’s 31-28 victory over Nebraska
Also added a pass-breakup and a quarterback hurry in the win
His 9.5 sacks on the season are the most by a Hawkeye since Adrian Clayborn had 11.5 in 2009
Overall, the Hawkeyes have 34 sacks on the season, the team’s most since it also had 34 in 2003
Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: A.J. Epenesa (Nov. 19, 2018)
Josiah Scott, Michigan State
So., CB, Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield
Recorded two interceptions along with three tackles in Michigan State’s 14-10 victory over Rutgers
Both interceptions came in the second half with the second coming on a Rutgers drive deep in Spartan territory as Scott picked off a pass at the 3-yard line with 1:32 left in the game to secure the victory
Became the first Spartan with two interceptions in a game since David Dowell had two against Penn State on Nov. 4, 2017
Aided a Spartans’ defense that limited Rutgers to 217 total yards, 109 passing yards, nine completions and 10 first downs
Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
Last Michigan State Defensive Player of the Week: Joe Bachie (Nov. 5, 2018)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Demetrius Douglas, Minnesota
Fr., WR/PR, Portland, Ore./Jesuit
Returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown to aid the Gophers’ 37-15 victory over Wisconsin to win Paul Bunyan’s Axe
Second Minnesota punt return for touchdown this season, joining Antoine Winfield Jr., who had one in the Gophers’ season opener vs. New Mexico State
Earns his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honor
Last Minnesota Special Teams Player of the Week: Emmit Carpenter (Sept. 10, 2018)
Freshman of the Week
Rondale Moore, Purdue
WR, New Albany, Ind./Trinity
Caught a career-high 12 receptions for 141 yards and two receiving touchdowns in a 28-21 Purdue victory over Indiana to claim the Old Oaken Bucket
His 12 catches give him 103 on the season, marking the third time in Big Ten history an individual has had 100 receptions in a single-season
Stands second all-time in Big Ten history to fellow Boilermaker Chris Daniels (121 in 1999) for receptions in a single-season
Tallied his seventh game with 100 or more receiving yards on the season, tying the Purdue record for a single-season
Scored on receiving touchdowns of 56 and 33 yards as Purdue became bowl eligible for the second year in a row
Earns his fourth career Freshman of the Week award, tied for fifth-most in a single-season in Big Ten history
Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Rondale Moore (Oct. 22, 2018)
