Following Big Ten football games on Sept. 21, the Offensive, 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 Players of the Week

Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Jr., RB, Salem, N.J./Salem

Rushed 23 times for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns, topping the 100-yard rushing mark for the 25th time in his 30-game career, to become the first Wisconsin player in history to rush for at least 200 yards against Michigan

Scored his ninth overall touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run to open the scoring in the first quarter, carrying eight times for 51 yards on the game-opening drive

Only Ron Dayne (33) and Montee Ball (26) have more 100-yard games as Badgers

Earns his sixth career Offensive Player of the Week award and second of the season

Last Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Week: Jonathan Taylor (Sept. 2, 2019)

Defensive Player of the Week

Recorded a career-high 14 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss, in Michigan State’s win against Northwestern

Added a 9-yard sack in the first quarter and two pass break-ups

Recorded his fifth career interception and returned it 19 yards in the fourth quarter

Receives his fourth career Defensive Player of the Week honor and first since Nov. 15, 2018

Last Michigan State Defensive Player of the Week: Kenny Willekes (Sept. 2, 2019)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Dropped five punts inside the 20, including a 59-yard boot to the 2-yard line that set up a fumble and Illini score on the next play against Nebraska

Averaged 45.9 yards on eight punts against the Huskers

Ranks second on Illinois' career punting average list (43.1 ypp) behind Steve Weatherford (43.5)

Claims his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honor

Last Illinois Special Teams Player of the Week: David Reisner (Nov. 24, 2014)

Freshman of the Week