Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin Earn Weekly Football Honors
Wolverines’ McCarthy, Gophers’ Kesich and Nubin, Buckeyes’ Harrison Jr., and Badgers’ Locke garner accolades
Following Week 8 contests, the Big Ten Conference Co-Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Player of the Week, and the Freshman of the Week were announced this morning. Below are this week's honorees:
Co-Offensive Players of the Week
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
QB – Jr. – La Grange Park, Ill. – Nazareth Academy/IMG Academy
Completed 21 of 27 passes for 287 yards and added a career-high four touchdown passes in Michigan’s 49-0 victory against Michigan State
Moved into sixth all-time in touchdown passes (45) and No. 10 all-time with 5,034 career passing yards
Led the Wolverines to 7-of-11 on third down with 28 first downs in the game
The Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns his second career Offensive Player of the Week award
Last Michigan Offensive Player of the Week: J.J. McCarthy (Oct. 16, 2023)
Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
WR – Jr. – Philadelphia, Pa. – St. Joseph's Prep
Led Ohio State to a 20-12 victory over previously unbeaten and No. 7 Penn State Saturday with a career-high 11 receptions, including the game-winning touchdown with 4:07 left to play
Had 162 receiving yards – his fifth time over 100 yards this season - against the No. 1 total defense and No. 1 passing defense in the nation, and his game-winning score was a catch-and-run from 18 yards out
Nine of his receptions went for an Ohio State first down, giving him 19 first down receptions the past two seasons against the Nittany Lions
Earns his second career Offensive Player of the Week award
Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Oct. 9, 2023)
Defensive Players of the Week
Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
DB – Sr. – Saint Charles, Ill. – Saint Charles North
Made four tackles in Minnesota's 12-10 win at Iowa, defeating the Hawkeyes for the first time since 1999
Had one sack, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup in Minnesota's upset win
Led a Gopher defense that limited Iowa to 127 total yards of offense (116 passing, 11 rushing) for the game and held Iowa to 12 yards on seven offensive drives in the second half
The three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns the second Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career
Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: Tyler Nubin (Sept. 5, 2023)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Dragan Kesich, Minnesota
K – Sr. – Oak Creek, Wis. – Oak Creek
Kicked four field goals and scored all 12 of Minnesota's points in 12-10 win at Iowa
Made field goals from 43, 44, 28 and 31 yards, marking the first game that Minnesota has won without scoring a touchdown since 12-10 win at Iowa in 1981 when Jim Gallery kicked four field goals
Became the first Gopher to make four or more field goals in a win since Dan Nystrom made five against Arkansas in the 2002 Music City Bowl
The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree garners the second Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career
Last Minnesota Special Teams Player of the Week: Dragan Kesich (Sept. 5, 2023)
Freshman of the Week
Braedyn Locke, Wisconsin
QB – Rockwall, Texas – Rockwall
Locke led a 14-point fourth quarter comeback against Illinois in his first collegiate start, propelling Wisconsin to a 25-21 win
Threw for a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner to OL Nolan Rucci with 0:27 remaining, and finished with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns on 21-for-41 passing
Locke's 240 yards were the third-most in the Big Ten this week, trailing Michigan's JJ McCarthy and OSU's Kyle McCord
Earns the first Freshman of the Week honor of his career
Last Wisconsin Freshman of the Week: Braelon Allen (Nov. 8, 2021)
2023 Big Ten Football Players of the Week
Sept. 5
O: Drew Allar, So., QG, PSU
D: Miles Scott, So., DB, ILL
D: Tyler Nubin, Sr., S, MINN
S: Dragan Kesich, Sr., K, MINN
F: Dillon Thieneman, DB, PUR
Sept. 11
O: Noah Kim, Jr., QB, MSU
D: Sebastian Castro, Sr., DB, IOWA
S: Jai Patel, So., K, RU
F: Darius Taylor, RB, MINN
Sept. 18
O: Kyle Monangai, Jr., RB, RU
D: Hunter Wohler, Jr., S, WIS
S: Braedan Wisloski, Fr., WR, MD
F: Darius Taylor, RB, MINN
Sept. 25
O: Bryce Kirtz, Sr., WR, NU
D: Lathan Ransom, Sr., S, OSU
S: Nathanial Vakos, So., K, WIS
F: Darius Taylor, RB, MINN
Oct. 2
O: Taulia Tagovailoa, Sr., QB, MD
D: Nick Jackson, Gr., LB, IOWA
D: Josaiah Stewart, Jr., EDGE, MICH
S: Cooper DeJean, Jr., DB, IOWA
F: Zach Evans, RB, MINN
Oct. 9
O: Marvin Harrison Jr., Jr., WR, OSU
D: Josh Proctor, Gr., S, OSU
S: Tory Taylor, Sr., P, IOWA
F: Dillon Thieneman, DB, PUR
Oct. 16
O: J.J. McCarthy, Jr., QB, MICH
D: Seth Coleman, Jr., OLB, ILL
S: Tory Taylor, Sr., P, IOWA
S: Daequan Hardy, CB, Sr., PSU
F: Kaden Feagin, RB, ILL
Oct. 23
O: J.J. McCarthy, Jr., QB, MICH
O: Marvin Harrison Jr., Jr., WR, OSU
D: Tyler Nubin, Sr., DB, MINN
S: Dragan Kesich, Sr., K, MINN
F: Braedyn Locke, QB, WIS