Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State Earn Weekly Football Honors

Following Week 12 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

Maliq Carr, Michigan State

TE – Jr. – Inkster, Mich. – Oak Park

• Helped the Spartans reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon from Indiana with a career-high nine catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the 24-21 win

• He is the first Spartan tight end to record a 100-yard receiving game since Dion Sims in 2012 (122 vs. Eastern Michigan)

• With 4:06 left in the game, Carr caught the ball inside the 15-yard line, absorbed a big hit, then raced into the end zone for the game-winning score

• Also had a 17-yard touchdown catch on MSU's first drive of the game

• Earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award

• Last Michigan State Offensive Player of the Week: Noah Kim (Sept. 11, 2023)

Defensive Players of the Week

Mike Sainristil, Michigan

DB – Gr. – Everett, Mass. – Everett

• Recorded two picks in the second half for the first two-interception game of his career in a 31-24 win against Maryland

• Picked off a pass at midfield -- his second interception of the game and fifth of the season -- and the Wolverines forced their second safety of the game with less than four minutes remaining in regulation

• Was a one-score game at the time of his interception (23-17 then 29-24) and his interceptions led to points both times

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

• Last Michigan Defensive Player of the Week: Josaiah Stewart (Oct. 2, 2023)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Tory Taylor, Iowa

P – Sr. – Melbourne, Australia – Haileybury College

• Punted eight times for 51.6 yards in Iowa's 15-13 victory over Illinois to clinch the outright Big Ten West Division title

• Recorded six punts of 50+ yards and two punts downed inside the 20

• Became Iowa's school record holder for career punts with 274 in his career

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

• Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week: Tory Taylor (Oct. 16, 2023)

Freshman of the Week

Katin Houser, Michigan State

QB – Anaheim, Calif. – St. John Bosco

• Made his sixth consecutive start and had his best game as a Spartan to lead Michigan State past Indiana, 24-21, at Memorial Stadium

• Finished with career highs for completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns, going 26-of-41 passing for 245 yards and three touchdowns against the Hoosiers

• Down 21-17 with 4:06 remaining, Houser and the Spartans marched down the field 75 yards for the game-winning touchdown drive, connecting on a 36-yard touchdown pass to redshirt junior tight end Maliq Carr with just 1:19 left on the clock to put MSU on top, 24-21

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

• Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Ricky White (Nov. 2, 2020)

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

Nov. 20

O: Maliq Carr, Jr., TE, MSU

D: Mike Sainristil, Gr., DB, MICH

S: Tory Taylor, Sr., P, IOWA