Big Ten announces football players of the week

Release from the Big Ten Conference:

Offensive Player of the Week

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Sr., RB, Homewood, Ala./Homewood

• Produced a school-record 341 all-purpose yards, including 19 carries for 225 yards and three rushing touchdowns, in Nebraska’s victory over Rutgers
• Added 90 yards on two kickoff returns and 26 yards on two receptions
• Moved into second place on the Big Ten career all-purpose yardage list, passing Indiana’s Anthony Thompson and Ohio State’s Archie Griffin
• Records the fifth Offensive Player of the Week award of his career and fourth of the season
• Last Nebraska Offensive Player of the Week: Ameer Abdullah (Sept. 29, 2014)

Defensive Player of the Week

Joey Bosa, Ohio State

So., DE, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas

• Registered six tackles and 2.5 sacks to guide the Buckeyes to a double-overtime victory at Penn State
• Recorded a sack on the final play of the game to clinch the win
• Leads all Big Ten players with 8.0 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss
• Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Ohio State Defensive Player of the Week: Ryan Shazier (Nov. 25, 2013)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Justin DuVernois, Illinois

Jr., P, Plantation, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas

• Averaged 48.7 yards on nine punts as Illinois defeated Minnesota
• Four of his nine punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, including two inside the 10-yard line
• Recorded two punts of 61 yards and had four punts of longer than 50 yards
• Claims his second career Special Teams Player of the Week honor
• Last Illinois Special Teams Player of the Week: Justin DuVernois (Sept. 16, 2013)

Freshman of the Week

DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State

WR, Fredericksburg, Va./Mountain View

• Caught a school-record 14 passes, including three receptions on the game-tying drive in the fourth quarter, against nationally ranked Ohio State
• Finished with 126 receiving yards, marking his fourth 100-yard game of the season
• Leads all Big Ten players with 8.1 receptions per game this season
• Wins his second Freshman of the Week award
• Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: DaeSean Hamilton (Sept. 1, 2014)