Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 9

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.

Co-Offensive Players of the Week:

Chase Brown, Illinois, Running Back, Junior.

College football’s leading rusher had another great game for Illinois. Brown had 35 touches (32 rushing, 3 receiving) for 172 yards (159 rushing, 13 receiving) and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the Illini’s win over Nebraska.

Blake Corum, Michigan, Running Back, Junior.

He had 34 touches for 178 total yards and two touchdowns. Corum is averaging 6.0 yards per carry this season for the Wolverines. He and Chase Brown are the best running backs in the Big Ten and the entire country. They carry their teams every Saturday and this was no exception for Corum and Brown.

Defensive Player of the Week:

J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State, Defensive End, Sophomore.

The sophomore defensive end did everything a defender could. He tackled, sacked the quarterback, stopped the run, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass (twice), and scored. Tuimoloau had six tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks, a fumble forced, a fumble recovered, and two interceptions, the second of which he returned for a touchdown as he led the Buckeye defense to a 44-31 win over Penn State.

Special Teams Player of the Week:

Drew Stevens, Iowa, Kicker, Freshman.

I gave Drew Stevens the nod over Michigan’s Jake Moody because it’s a large accomplishment when this woeful Iowa team scores 33 points and because Stevens is a freshman and Moody a senior. Stevenson was four of four on his field goals and three for three on his extra points in the Hawkeyes’ win over Northwestern.

Honorable Mention:

Mohammed Ibrahim, Minnesota, Running Back, Senior.

Ibrahim had another solid game for the Gophers. He has had at least a hundred yards rushing and a touchdown in every game he has played in this season and against Rutgers he had 36 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns.

Sydney Brown, Illinois, Defensive Back, Senior.

Chase Brown’s brother who plays defense is as good defensively as his brother is on offense. Against the Huskers Sydney Brown had six tackles and two interceptions. He has three interceptions and seven passes defended for Illinois this season.

Tyler Nubin, Minnesota, Defensive Back, Senior.

Tyler Nubin had an excellent game for the Golden Gophers in their win over Rutgers. Nubin had three tackles and forced two big turnovers with two interceptions as Minnesota beat Rutgers 31-0.

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior.

The narrative and impression was that Stroud struggled against Penn State. I guess when you consistently score four or five touchdowns a game it seems like a letdown to score only one. Yet he still was 26 of 33 for 354 yards and a touchdown and no turnovers against an elite defense, that is 10th in the nation even after this game in passing efficiency defense.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, Wide Receiver, Sophomore.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has had a fantastic season for Ohio State as one of the best receivers in college football. His big game against Penn State was no exception. He caught 10 passes for 185 yards and every single catch resulted in a first down. J.T. Tuimoloau rightly captured the headlines from that game but once again Harrison was quietly getting things done for the Buckeyes.

Big Ten Player of the Year Watch: 

1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior.

   Stroud is still making throws worthy of the best quarterback and best player in all of college football. He is 159 of 223 for 2,377 yards and 29 touchdowns. As long as the Buckeyes keep winning and he keeps producing he’ll be at the top of plenty player of the year lists. It looks like the only person who can stop C.J. Stroud right now is himself.

2. Blake Corum, Michigan, Running Back, Junior.

   

   Chase Brown may have more yards and be the best back in the Big Ten West, but Corum is the best running back in the country. He and Stroud seemingly have this as a two-horse race, (and are both fighting for the Heisman) that will collide on November 26th in Columbus. Corum has 179 carries for 1,078 yards and a staggering 15 touchdowns on the season for Michigan.

3. Chase Brown, Illinois, Running Back, Junior.

   

   Chase Brown is the main reason Illinois is 7-1 and controlling its own destiny in the Wild Big Ten West. If they keep winning they get to Indianapolis in December. This man with 242 touches and 1,328 total yards and eight total touchdowns is the tank leading their attack as they are the surprise team in the Big Ten and the team to beat in the West Division.

4. Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State, Linebacker, Senior.

   

   Eichenberg has been a tackling machine for the Buckeyes. On the season he has 72 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, and a defensive touchdown. Teammate J.T. Tuimoloau made his case for best defender in the Big Ten against Penn State and may jump Eichenberg with another game or two like that.

5. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland, Quarterback, Junior.

   

   Tagovailoa is still here despite missing the Terps’ win over Northwestern with an injury. Taulia Tagovailoa still has Penn State and Ohio State on his schedule and if he plays well in both or one of those games look for him to maybe move up this list too. He has Maryland bowl eligible and looking for a signature win and Penn State and Ohio State better watch out or they may get upset.

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!

Check out my Big Ten Players of the Week so far this season!

1. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 0
2. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 1
3. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 2
4. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 3
5. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 4
6. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 5 
7. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 6
8. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 7
9. Big Ten Players of the Week – Week 8