Big Ten Football Players of the Week - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Big Ten Football Players of the Week

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Offensive Player of the Week

Kain Colter, Northwestern

Jr., QB, Denver, Colo./Cherry Creek

•           Accounted for all four Northwestern touchdowns in the Wildcats' 28-17 victory over Iowa on Saturday

•           Rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries, helping the Wildcats total 349 yards on the ground

•           Added 80 passing yards, 47 of which came on a third-quarter touchdown strike to make the score 28-3

•           Claims his third career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor, and second this season

•           Last Northwestern Offensive Player of the Week: Kain Colter (Oct. 1, 2012)

 

Defensive Co-Players of the Week

Michael Carter, Minnesota

Sr., DB, Pompano Beach, Fla./Ely

•           Tied a program record with six pass breakups and returned an interception for a touchdown to help Minnesota knock off Purdue, 44-28, on Saturday

•           On Purdue's opening drive of the second half, intercepted a pass and returned it 43 yards for a score, giving the Gophers a commanding 41-7 lead

•           Also recorded six tackles as Minnesota held Purdue to 198 passing yards

•           Wins his first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week laurel

•           Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week:  Derrick Wells (Sept. 3, 2012)

 

Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

So., LB, Plantation, Fla./Plantation

•           Returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter against Penn State, giving Ohio State a 14-7 lead it would not relinquish

•           Recorded a team-high eight tackles, including two sacks for 22 yards, and a forced fumble

•           Was part of the Ohio State defense that limited Penn State to just 32 yards rushing

•           Takes home his first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor

•           Last Ohio State Defensive Player of the Week: John Simon (Oct. 17, 2011)

 

Special Teams Player of the Week

Brett Maher, Nebraska

Sr., P/K, Kearney, Neb./Kearney

•           Accounted for 11 points and averaged 42.3 yards per punt in Nebraska's 23-9 victory over Michigan on Saturday

•           Was a perfect three-for-three on field-goal tries, converting from 19, 31 and 51 yards, which was his fifth career field goal of 50 yards or longer

•           Also punted four times for 169 yards, with two downed inside the Michigan 20-yard line

•           Wins his fifth Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week award, tied for the most in Big Ten history, and second this season

•           Last Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Week: Brett Maher (Oct. 1, 2012)

 

Co-Freshman of the Week

Philip Nelson, Minnesota

QB, Mankato, Minn./West

•           Threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns in his home debut, leading Minnesota to a 44-28 victory over Purdue on Saturday

•           Led the Gophers on seven consecutive scoring drives, accounting for 44 unanswered points to take a commanding 44-7 third-quarter lead

•           Wins his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor

•           Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: N/A

 

David Santos, Nebraska

LB, Spring, Texas/Klein Collins

•           Totaled 10 tackles, a career-best, with one tackle for loss in Nebraska's 23-9 victory over Michigan on Saturday

•           Was part of a Cornhusker defense that limited Michigan to just 188 yards of total offense and 33 percent passing

•           Takes home his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week award

•           Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: Imani Cross (Sept. 24, 2012)