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Big Ten CommunicationsPublished: 9/11/2023, Last updated: 9/27/2023
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Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota and Rutgers Earn Weekly Football Honors

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Following Week 2 contests, the Big Ten Conference Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Week, and the Freshman of the Week were announced this morning. Below are this week's honorees:

 

Offensive Player of the Week

Noah Kim, Michigan State

QB – Jr. – Centreville, Va. – Westfield

  • Went 18-for-22, passing for 292 yards and three touchdowns in the 45-14 win over Richmond, completing 15-straight passes to close out the game

  • The 292 yards marked a career-high for the second week in a row, topping last week's 279 yards in his starting debut vs. Central Michigan, while the 18 completions matches last week's 18-for-31 passing

  • Kim is now 36-for-53 for 571 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions through the first two games of the season

  • The Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award

  • Last Michigan State Offensive Player of the Week: Kenneth Walker III (Nov. 1, 2021)

Defensive Player of the Week

Sebastian Castro, Iowa

DB – Sr. – Oak Lawn, Ill. – Richards

  • Recorded a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Hawkeyes a 17-0 lead in an eventual 20-13 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series win at Iowa State

  • Castro's interception was the first of his career and it was his second career touchdown

  • Finished the game with four tackles and a key fourth quarter pass breakup that helped Iowa prevail in Ames for the sixth consecutive time and give head coach Kirk Ferentz his 200th career victory

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

  • Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: Jack Campbell (Nov. 20, 2022)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Jai Patel, Rutgers

K – So. – Monmouth Junction, N.J. – South Brunswick

  • Went 3-for-3 on field goals in the Scarlet Knights’ 36-7 win over Temple

  • Connected on a career-long 51-yard field goal, tied for the seventh-longest make in program history, and added successful attempts from 43 and 23 yards out

  • Contributed three extra points in as many attempts

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

  • Last Rutgers Special Teams Player of the Week: Adam Korsak (Nov. 1, 2021)

 

Freshman of the Week

Darius Taylor, Minnesota

RB – Detroit, Mich. – Walled Lake Western

  • Rushed 33 times for 193 yards and one touchdown in a 25-6 win against Eastern Michigan

  • His 193 yards were second most in school history for a true freshman, behind Darrell Thompson who rushed for 205 yards against Bowling Green in 1986

  • Added 13 receiving yards to finish with 206 all-purpose yards

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

  • Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Athan Kaliakmanis (Nov. 28, 2022)

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