Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Ohio State Earn Weekly Football Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 13 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week Presented by IFS.ai were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees: 

Co-Offensive Players of the Week

Pat Bryant, Illinois

WR – Sr. – Jacksonville, Fla. – Atlantic Coast

• Caught the game-winning touchdown with 0:04 remaining as part of a 197-yard, seven-reception performance to lead No. 24 Illinois to a 38-31 win at Rutgers
• Scored his third game-winning touchdown in the final minute or overtime this season, the most in the nation
• Surpassed 2,000 receiving yards for his career on the game-winning touchdown
• Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week honoree: Luke Altmyer (Sept. 23, 2024)

Will Howard, Ohio State

QB – Gr. – Downington, Pa. – Downington West

• Extended his school single season and career records with his sixth game with a completion percentage of at least 80 percent by completing 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the win over No. 5 Indiana
• Found Emeka Egbuka on an 11-yard touchdown score after Indiana had taken a 7-0 lead, and then he hit Jelani Thurman with a one-yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-7
• Leads the nation in completion percentage at 74.0
• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week honoree: Will Howard (Nov. 11, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week

Cody Simon, Ohio State

LB – Gr. – Jersey City, N.J. – St. Peter's Prep

• Led the Buckeyes’ defensive effort against Indiana's 15th-ranked offensive unit with a game-high 10 tackles, including 2.5 quarterback sacks, and a forced fumble
• The 10-tackle game was Simon's third game this season with 10 tackles and his 2.5 sacks represented a career high for a single game
• Helped the Buckeyes to a season-high tying five quarterback sacks on the afternoon
• Last Ohio State Defensive Player of the Week: Josh Proctor (Oct. 9, 2023)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Drew Stevens, Iowa

K – Jr. – North Augusta, S.C. – North Augusta

• Tied an Iowa program record set in 2004 and an SECU Stadium record, making all five field goals in Iowa's 29-13 road win at Maryland
• Tied a career-high with a 54-yarder and made two from 50+, becoming the first Iowa player to make multiple from 50+ since 1998
• He now has seven career makes from 50+ yards, a school record and is 17-of-20 on attempts this season and is the first player to ever make two from 50+ against Maryland
• Last Iowa Special Teams Players of the Week: Kaden Wetjen (Oct. 28, 2024)

Freshman of the Week

Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska

WR – Florida City, Fla. – Palmetto

• Set career highs with nine receptions for 85 yards, bettering his previous highs of eight catches and 78 yards, in Nebraska’s win against Wisconsin
• Rushed for 11 yards and had 54 yards in returns for 150 all-purpose yards
• Set the tone with a 45-yard kickoff return to open the game, setting up a Husker scoring drive in the opening minutes
• Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week honoree: Dylan Raiola (Sept. 2, 2024)

2024 Big Ten Football Players of the Week (presented by IFS.ai)

Sept. 2

O: Miller Moss, R-Jr., QB, USC

D: Kevin Winston Jr., Jr., S, PSU

ST: Mateen Bhaghani, So., K, UCLA

ST: Dominic Zvada, Jr., K, MICH

F: Dylan Raiola, Fr., QB, NEB

Sept. 9

O: Kyle Monangai, Sr., RB, RU

D: Xavier Scott, Jr., DB, ILL

ST: Tez Johnson, Sr., WR, ORE

F: Nick Marsh, Fr., WR, MSU

Sept. 16

O: Kurtis Rourke, Sr., QB, IND

D: Dante Trader Jr., Sr., DB, MD

ST: Atticus Sappington, Jr., K, ORE

F: Kerry Brown, R-Fr., DB, MINN

Sept. 23

O: Kaleb Johnson, Jr., RB, IOWA

O: Luke Altmyer, Jr., QB, ILL

D: Josaiah Stewart, Sr., EDGE, MICH

ST: Tommy Doman, Sr., P, MICH

F: Khmori House, Fr., ILB, WASH

Sept. 30

O: Kalel Mullings, Sr., RB, MICH

O: Tez Johnson, Sr., WR, ORE

D: Abdul Carter, Jr., DE/LB, PSU

ST: Dominic Zvada, Jr., K, MICH

F: Jeremiah Smith, WR, OSU

Oct. 7

O: Kurtis Rourke, Sr., QB, IND

O: Emeka Egbuka, Gr., WR, OSU

D: Jordan Burch, Sr., DE, ORE

ST: Brian Buschini, Sr., P, NEB

F: Trech Kekahuna, WR, WIS

Oct. 14

O: Dillon Gabriel, Sr., QB, ORE

O: Tyler Warren, Sr., TE, PSU

D: Aaron Graves, Jr., DL, IOWA

D: Koi Perich, Fr., DB, MINN

ST: Luke Akers, Jr., K/P, NU

F: Ryan Barker, K, PSU

Oct. 21

O: Ethan Garbers, Sr., QB, UCLA

D: Gabe Jacas, Jr., OLB, ILL

ST: Jonathan Kim, Gr., P/K, MSU

F: Nick Marsh, WR, MSU

Oct. 28

O: Max Brosmer, Gr., QB, MINN

D: D'Angelo Ponds, So., DB, IND

ST: Kaden Wetjen, Sr., K, IOWA

F: Koi Perich, DB, MINN

Nov. 4

O: Kaleb Johnson, Jr., RB, IOWA

D: Carson Bruener, Sr., LB, WASH

ST: Dragan Kesich, Sr., K, MINN

F: Kwazi Gilmer, WR, UCLA

Nov. 11

O: Will Howard, Gr., QB, OSU

D: Carson Schwesinger, Jr., LB, UCLA

ST: Dominic Zvada, Jr, K, MICH

F: Jeremiah Smith, WR, OSU

Nov. 18

O: Tyler Warren, Sr., TE, PSU

D: Matayo Uiagalelei, So., OL, ORE

D: Russell Davis II, Jr., DL, WASH

ST: Atticus Sappington, Jr., K, ORE

F: Demond Williams Jr., QB, WASH

Nov. 24

O: Pat Bryant, Sr., WR, ILL

O: Will Howard, Gr., QB, OSU

D: Cody Simon, Gr., LB, OSU

ST: Drew Stevens, Jr., K, IOWA

F: Jacory Barney Jr., WR, NEB

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