Posted by: Sports
sports@klkntv.com
Offensive Co-Players of the Week
Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State
Jr., RB, Columbus, Ohio/Groveport Madison
- Recorded career-highs with 210 rushing yards and 44 carries, scoring two touchdowns to help Michigan State defeat nationally ranked Boise State on Friday night
- Amassed a career-best 265 all-purpose yards, more than Boise State's total offensive yards (206) for the game
- Scored the Spartans' only touchdowns of the game, including the game-winner midway through the fourth quarter
- Records his first Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week selection and third overall honor, having earned two Freshman of the Week awards during the 2010 season
- Last Michigan State Offensive Player of the Week: Kirk Cousins (Oct. 24, 2011)
Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
Jr., QB, Corona, Calif./Centennial
- Threw for a career-high 354 yards and tied a career best with five touchdown strikes to lead the Huskers to an opening-day victory over Southern Miss
- Completed 26 of 34 passes (76.5 percent) and became the sixth Nebraska quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 career yards
- Guided Nebraska to 632 yards of total offense, the most in fifth-year coach Bo Pelini's tenure
- Wins his second career Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award
- Last Nebraska Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Martinez (Oct. 10, 2011)
Defensive Player of the Week
Derrick Wells, Minnesota
So., DB, Lehigh Acres, Fla./Lehigh
- Tied for the team lead with eight tackles and added two interceptions to help Minnesota to a road win at UNLV on Thursday night
- Intercepted his first pass midway through the fourth quarter to set up Minnesota's go-ahead field goal
- Picked off his second pass in the third overtime, allowing Minnesota to kick the game-winning field goal
- Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
- Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: Kim Royston (Nov. 28, 2011)
Special Teams Co-Players of the Week
Mike Meyer, Iowa
Jr., PK, Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert
- Booted four field goals, tying a career best, against Northern Illinois, accounting for 12 points in the Hawkeyes' 18-17 victory over the Huskies
- Converted on field goals from 22, 29, 34 and 50 yards, with the 50-yarder coming with 9:30 remaining in the fourth quarter to cut the NIU lead to one possession
- Wins his second career Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honor
- Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week: Mike Meyer (Nov. 8, 2010)
Venric Mark, Northwestern
Jr., PR/KR, Tomball, Texas/St. Pius X
- Scored Northwestern's first touchdown in a 42-41 win over Syracuse with an 82-yard punt return in the opening quarter
- Totaled 134 punt return yards, breaking a 21-year-old single-game school record, and collected 49 kickoff return yards, making him NU's all-time kickoff return yardage leader with 1,513
- Matched a career high with 281 all-purpose yards, including the first touchdown catch of his career
- Wins his second Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honor
- Last Northwestern Special Teams Player of the Week: Venric Mark (Nov. 29, 2010)
Freshman of the Week
Frankie Williams, Purdue
DB, Tampa, Fla./Coral Gables
- Led the Purdue defense with six tackles, including one for loss, and a pass breakup in Purdue's 48-6 win over Eastern Kentucky
- Was part of a Purdue defense that held EKU to 85 passing yards on the day
- Wins his first career weekly award
- Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Raheem Mostert (Nov. 7, 2011)
