Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett, Michigan’s Mike McCray, Wisconsin’s Rafael Gaglianone, Iowa’s Anthony Nelson are Big Ten players of the week
After a busy opening weekend of blowout wins for favorites, upsets and more, four Big Ten players picked up weekly honors on Monday.
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett is the league’s Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for a program-record seven touchdowns in the No. 6 Buckeyes’ 77-10 rout of Bowling Green. Barrett passed for 349 yards and six touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. It’s the fifth time he’s won the award.
Defensively, Michigan linebacker Mike McCray picked up Defensive Player of the Week honors after making nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and forcing a fumble in the No. 7 Wolverines’ 63-3 blowout win against Hawaii. It was also McCray’s first career start.
Not surprisingly, Wisconsin kicker Rafael Gaglianone is the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week. Gaglianone made three field goals, including a 47-yard kick late in the fourth quarter, to lift the Badgers to a 16-14 win against No. 5 LSU.
Finally, Iowa freshman Anthony Nelson, a defensive end, is the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week. He had 2.5 sacks and forced two fumbles in No. 17 Iowa’s 45-21 win vs. Miami (Ohio).
Your @bigten Offensive Player of the Week: J.T. Barrett.
7️⃣ total touchdowns will do that for you. pic.twitter.com/4Y9vZsmlw8
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 5, 2016
The #B1G Defensive Player of the Week is @UMichFootball LB Mike McCray, who had 3.5 TFL & 1 FF against Hawaii pic.twitter.com/JBq8gz9lOZ
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 5, 2016
Including his 4th career game-winning FG, most in school history. Congrats @rafagaglianone! #Badgers https://t.co/z7e4NlWI2p
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 5, 2016
DE Anthony Nelson is the #B1G Freshman of the Week after recording 2.5 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles and a Pass Breakup pic.twitter.com/pMfn0EkSlM
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 5, 2016
