Illinois, Maryland and Purdue Earn Weekly Football Honors

Following Week 11 contests, the Big Ten Conference 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:

Offensive Player of the Week

John Paddock, Illinois

QB – Sr. – Bloomfield Hills, Mich. – Bloomfield Hills

• Led Illinois to a 48-45 overtime victory against Indiana by completing 24 of 36 passes for 507 yards and four touchdowns

• His 507 passing yards are the most ever in Memorial Stadium history and Paddock is just the second Illini in history to throw for 500+ yards, joining Dave Wilson (621, 11/8/1980 at Ohio State)

• Completed a 21-yard touchdown to Isaiah Williams for a walk-off game-winner in overtime

• Earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award

• Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Isaiah Williams (Nov. 6, 2023)

Defensive Players of the Week

Tarheeb Still, Maryland

DB – Sr. – Sicklerville, N.J. – Timber Creek Regional

• Recorded a team high seven tackles and two interceptions in the Terps’ 13-10 road win at Nebraska

• With the game tied 10-10 with less than four minutes to play, Still intercepted Nebraska's pass in the endzone on third and goal and returned it 19 yards to set up Maryland's game-winning drive

• Led a Maryland defense that forced five Nebraska turnovers

• Earns the first Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career

• Last Maryland Defensive Player of the Week: Tre Watson (Sept. 24, 2018)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Jack Howes, Maryland

K – So. – Orlando, Fla. – Edgewater

• Made a pair of field goals, both in the fourth quarter, to lead the Terps to a 13-10 road win at Nebraska

• Kicked the game-winning 24-yard field goal as time expired for the walk-off win, Maryland's first walk-off win since beating Illinois on Sept. 17, 2021

• Connected on a 35-yard field goal to tie the game with 12:42 remaining in the fourth quarter

• Garners the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career

• Last Maryland Special Teams Player of the Week: Braedan Wisloski (Sept. 18, 2023)

Freshman of the Week

Dillon Thieneman, Purdue

DB – Westfield, Ind. – Westfield

• Recorded a team-high nine tackles, three more than any other Boilermaker, to help Purdue beat Minnesota 49-30

• Helped limit the Golden Gophers to 4-of-14 on third downs (28.6%)

• Led a Purdue defense that allowed just 45 yards of total offense in the first 25 minutes of the second half

• Earns the fourth Freshman of the Week honor of his career

• Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Dillon Thieneman (Oct. 30, 2023)

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

Oct. 30

O: Jordan Nubin, So., RB, MINN

D: Aidan Hubbard, Jr., DL, NU

S: Quinton Newsome, Sr., CB, NEB

F: Dillon Thieneman, DB, PUR

Nov. 6

O: Isaiah Williams, Jr., WR, ILL

D: Aaron Casey, Sr., LB, IND

S: Drew Stevens, So., K, IOWA

F: Kaden Feagin, RB, ILL

Nov. 13

O: John Paddock, Sr., QB, ILL

D: Tarheeb Still, Sr., DB, MD

S: Jack Howes, So., K, MD

F: Dillon Thieneman, DB, PUR