BIG TEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

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)