Iowa, Minnesota, UCLA and Washington Earn Weekly Football Honors
Hawkeyes’ Johnson, Gophers’ Kesich, Bruins’ Gilmer and Huskies’ Bruener garner accolades
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 10 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week Presented by IFS.ai were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees:
Offensive Player of the Week
Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
RB – Jr. – Hamilton, Ohio – Hamilton
- Tallied his seventh 100-yard game, rushing for 135 yards on 24 attempts and three touchdowns in Iowa's 42-10 victory against Wisconsin
- Found the end zone for the ninth straight game, the longest streak in school history
- Has three games with three rushing touchdowns and 20 total touchdowns, tying Shonn Greene's school record, while his 120 points are also tied for the school record
- Last Iowa Offensive Player of the Week honoree: Kaleb Johnson (Sept. 29, 2024)
Defensive Player of the Week
Carson Bruener, Washington
LB – Sr. – Woodinville, Wash. – Redmond
- Led the Huskies to a vital, 26-21, win over longtime rival USC, with two pass breakups and leading both teams with 12 total tackles (five more than any other UW or USC player)
- Notched two interceptions in the game with the first coming early in the opening quarter and led to a UW field goal to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead
- His second interception was in the third quarter, leading to Washington scoring the game's final touchdown to move in front 26-21
- Earns Washington’s first Defensive Player of the Week award
Special Teams Player of the Week
Dragan Kesich, Minnesota
K – Sr. – Oak Creek, Wis. – Oak Creek
- Went 4-of-4 on field goals, converting from 20, 45, 38, and 46 yards in Minnesota’s 25-17 win against Illinois
- Becomes the fifth kicker in Gopher history with multiple games of four-plus made field goals, while his four made field goals ties a career high and ties for third most in Gopher history
- His 13 points (4 field goals, 1 extra point) at Illinois were a career high, bringing his career total to 36 made field goals, passing Brent Berglund (35) for eighth in program history
- Last Minnesota Special Teams Players of the Week: Dragan Kesich (Oct. 23, 2023)
Freshman of the Week
Kwazi Gilmer, UCLA
WR – Los Angeles, Calif. – Sierra Canyon
- Posted a career-high 88 receiving yards on three catches as UCLA defeated Nebraska on the road, 27-20
- Reeled in his first career touchdown in the second half on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Garbers
- His 48-yard reception also marked a career best
- Earns UCLA’s first Freshman of the Week honor
2024 Big Ten Football Players of the Week (presented by IFS.ai)
Sept. 2
O: Miller Moss, R-Jr., QB, USC
D: Kevin Winston Jr., Jr., S, PSU
ST: Mateen Bhaghani, So., K, UCLA
ST: Dominic Zvada, Jr., K, MICH
F: Dylan Raiola, Fr., QB, NEB
Sept. 9
O: Kyle Monangai, Sr., RB, RU
D: Xavier Scott, Jr., DB, ILL
ST: Tez Johnson, Sr., WR, ORE
F: Nick Marsh, Fr., WR, MSU
Sept. 16
O: Kurtis Rourke, Sr., QB, IND
D: Dante Trader Jr., Sr., DB, MD
ST: Atticus Sappington, Jr., K, ORE
F: Kerry Brown, R-Fr., DB, MINN
Sept. 23
O: Kaleb Johnson, Jr., RB, IOWA
O: Luke Altmyer, Jr., QB, ILL
D: Josaiah Stewart, Sr., EDGE, MICH
ST: Tommy Doman, Sr., P, MICH
F: Khmori House, Fr., ILB, WASH
Sept. 30
O: Kalel Mullings, Sr., RB, MICH
O: Tez Johnson, Sr., WR, ORE
D: Abdul Carter, Jr., DE/LB, PSU
ST: Dominic Zvada, Jr., K, MICH
F: Jeremiah Smith, WR, OSU
Oct. 7
O: Kurtis Rourke, Sr., QB, IND
O: Emeka Egbuka, Gr., WR, OSU
D: Jordan Burch, Sr., DE, ORE
ST: Brian Buschini, Sr., P, NEB
F: Trech Kekahuna, WR, WIS
Oct. 14
O: Dillon Gabriel, Sr., QB, ORE
O: Tyler Warren, Sr., TE, PSU
D: Aaron Graves, Jr., DL, IOWA
D: Koi Perich, Fr., DB, MINN
ST: Luke Akers, Jr., K/P, NU
F: Ryan Barker, K, PSU
Oct. 21
O: Ethan Garbers, Sr., QB, UCLA
D: Gabe Jacas, Jr., OLB, ILL
ST: Jonathan Kim, Gr., P/K, MSU
F: Nick Marsh, WR, MSU
Oct. 28
O: Max Brosmer, Gr., QB, MINN
D: D'Angelo Ponds, So., DB, IND
ST: Kaden Wetjen, Sr., K, IOWA
F: Koi Perich, DB, MINN
Nov. 4
O: Kaleb Johnson, Jr., RB, IOWA
D: Carson Bruener, Sr., LB, WASH
ST: Dragan Kesich, Sr., K, MINN
F: Kwazi Gilmer, WR, UCLA