Author’s Note: These are not the official Big Ten Players of the Week, but my Big Ten Players of the Week as a writer for Gridiron Heroics.
Offensive Player of the Week:
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior.
Stroud was 21 of 26 for 361 yards and six touchdowns in Ohio State’s 49-20 win over Michigan State. Stroud and the Buckeye offense just keep rolling despite injuries. It looks like the only team that can stop Ohio State is Ohio State.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Kamo’i Latu, Wisconsin, Safety, Junior.
Latu had three tackles and two interceptions in Wisconsin’s big bounce-back win over Northwestern. The Badgers bullied the Wildcats 42-7 to start the Jim Leonhard Era 1-0. This was just the game Wisconsin needed on both sides of the ball and Latu led the way for the defense.
Special Teams Player of the Week:
Fabrizio Pinton, Illinois, Kicker, Freshman.
Pinton was a perfect three of three in Illinois’ 9-6 win over Iowa to move to 5-1 on the season. Illinois is playing the Brett Bielema style of running the ball and running it some more and playing good defense. And it’s working out pretty well for them so far. Winning ugly is still winning.
Honorable Mention:
Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, Wide Receiver, Sophomore.
Harrison had seven catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns. He’s become the favorite target of C.J. Stroud with the top three receivers from last year not there (two in the NFL, one hurt). Harrison plays a little differently than his Hall of Fame father but the results are the same; he just catches touchdowns.
Graham Mertz, Wisconsin, Quarterback, Senior.
Mertz was 20 of 29 for 299 yards and five touchdowns in Wisconsin’s 42-7 rout of Northwestern. Mertz and the Badgers are hoping this can turn their season around as they are still alive in the Wild Big Ten West.
Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State, Defensive Tackle, Sophomore.
Hall had three tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks in Ohio State’s 49-20 win over MSU. He has 4.5 sacks on the season. The Buckeyes will need Hall to continue to be a force on the defensive line and in the middle, as they play teams that are strong in the trenches particularly Penn State and that team up north.
Garrett Nelson, Nebraska, Defensive End, Junior.
Nelson had 11 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two tackles for a loss. He has 4.5 sacks on the year. Nelson was all over the field for the Huskers in their come-from-behind win over Rutgers. Thanks to efforts like Nelson’s, Mickey Joseph is now 2-0 in the Big Ten.
Chimere Dike, Wisconsin, Wide Receiver, Junior.
Dike was Graham Mertz’s favorite target, catching 10 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns. His career day led Wisconsin in a much-needed offensive explosion. Wisconsin will look to maintain the momentum and confidence they got from their 42-7 win over Northwestern.
Big Ten Player of the Year Watch:
1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior.
Stroud was 21 of 26 for 361 yards and six touchdowns. On the year he is 113 of 160 for 1,737 yards and 24 touchdowns. If Stroud keeps playing at the level he has been through the first six games, no one can catch him as the best in the Big Ten, despite some very good players being right behind him in the race.
2. Blake Corum, TTUN, Running Back, Junior.
Corum had 25 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. On the year he has 118 carries for 735 yards and 11 touchdowns. Corum is one of those very good players right behind Stroud. The talk of the wolverine offense has been about J.J. McCarthy but McCarthy’s season would be as different as night and day without being able to hand it off to Blake Corum.
3. Chase Brown, Illinois, Running Back, Junior.
Brown had another solid day in a grinded-out win for Illinois. He had 31 carries for 146 yards. On the season he has 151 carries for 879 yards and four touchdowns rushing and 12 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown receiving. Brown is your typical hard-nosed running Big Ten back that is thriving in and carrying Brett Bielema’s offense in Champaign, Illinois.
4. Sean Clifford, Penn State, Quarterback, Senior.
He’s 85 of 137 for 1,030 yards and 13 total touchdowns on the year. Clifford has been reliable and mistake-free in 2022. He’ll need to be both of those things if Penn State is to have a shot at winning their biggest road game of the year in Ann Arbor. If Clifford doesn’t turn the ball over, this game will go down to the wire and be decided in the last seconds.
5. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, Wide Receiver, Sophomore.
Harrison had seven catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns. On the year he has 31 catches for 536 yards and nine touchdowns. Harrison has made filling in for two first-round NFL draft picks and a multi-school record holder look a lot easier than it actually is. You wouldn’t know it by seeing how he and his Buckeye receivers have stepped into those huge empty shoes this year.
Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out which Big Ten players are making noise in the race for the Heisman. Also, check out here to see the official Big Ten Players of the Week and compare them! Give me a follow on Twitter and Facebook!
Here are the conference’s official players of this week and so far this season! Check out how they compare to mine below!
Check out my Big Ten Players of the Week so far this season!
0. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 0
1. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 1
2. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 2
3. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 4.
4. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 4
5. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 5
