Big Ten announces football players of the week

Release from the Big Ten Conference:

Following Big Ten football games on Oct. 3, the offensive, co-defensive and special teams players of the week and freshman of the week in the Big Ten were announced this morning. Below are this week’s honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week
Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
Jr., RB, Saint Louis, Mo./Burroughs

•           Rushed for a career-high 274 yards with 11.9 yards per carry and three touchdowns in Ohio State’s victory at Indiana

•           All three touchdowns came in the second half and covered more than 50 yards, as Elliott reached the end zone from 55, 65 and 75 yards

•           Leads all Big Ten players and ranks sixth nationally with 145.8 rushing yards per contest

•           Earns the first Offensive Player of the Week award of his career

•           Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Braxton Miller (Sept. 8, 2015)

Co-Defensive Players of the Week
Desmond King, Iowa
Jr., DB, Detroit, Mich./East English Village

•           Recorded nine tackles and two interceptions to guide Iowa to a victory at Wisconsin

•           Posted his second multi-interception game of the season, pushing his conference-leading season total to five

•           Helped the Hawkeyes reach 5-0 for the first time since 2009

•           Earns his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor

•           Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: Louis Trinca-Pasat (Nov. 3, 2014)

Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
Sr., LB, Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West

•           Notched eight tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery against Iowa

•           Added five quarterback hurries for the Badgers, who rank fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 9.6 points per game

•           Leads the nation in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles

•           Claims his second career Defensive Player of the Week honor

•           Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week: Joe Schobert (Nov. 17, 2014)

Special Teams Player of the Week
Sam Foltz, Nebraska
Jr., P, Greeley, Neb./Grand Island

•           Averaged 46.9 yards per punt over nine attempts against Illinois

•           Three punts were downed inside the 10-yard line, including one at the one-yard line

•           Recorded five punts of at least 50 yards, including each of his first four attempts

•           Claims his second career Special Teams Player of the Week honor and first since Sept. 8, 2014

•           Last Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Week: De’Mornay Pierson-El (Dec. 1, 2014)

Freshman of the Week
LJ Scott, Michigan State
RB, Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard

•           Established career highs with 18 carries and 146 rushing yards, while notching two rushing touchdowns in Michigan State’s victory over Purdue

•           Scored on runs of one and 18 yards in the first quarter

•           Broke 100 rushing yards for the first time in his career and tallied multiple touchdowns for the second time

•           Wins his second career weekly award

•           Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: LJ Scott (Sept. 14, 2015)