/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57593505/usa_today_10404145.0.jpg)
Every week in the Big Ten, there are outstanding young men playing football for our entertainment, and so we at OTE feel that it is only right to recognize the best and the brightest of these. Here now, the week 11 winners:
Offensive Players of the Week: The Minnesota Offensive Line
Normally, this award would go to one of the many skill players on the Minnesota offense (like QB Demry Croft, who shared the B1G OPOTW this week with Ohio State’s Mike Weber), but it was suggested by WSR that this week, since everyone in the Gopher backfield had themselves a day against the Cornhuskers (410 combined rushing yards), the O-line get the credit.
Honorable mentions go out to Croft, Kobe McCrary, and Rodney Smith of the Gophers; Weber; JD Spielman of Nebraska; and Elijah Sindelar of Purdue.
Defensive Player of the Week: Josh Jackson, Iowa DB
In an otherwise forgettable day against Ohio State Wisconsin, Jackson nabbed a pair of pick sixes, all of Iowa’s non-kicking points in the contest. He also leads the nation in interceptions.
Honorable mention goes to the entire Wisconsin defense, for holding Iowa to 66 yards of offense a week after they put up 55 points. (Special honorable mention to Leon Jacobs, the player from Wisconsin that the conference co-awarded POTW with Jackson.)
Special Teams Player of the Week: Rodney Smith, Minnesota
With a 100-yard kickoff return TD and 279 all-purpose yards, @GopherFootball RB Rodney Smith is the #B1G Special Teams Player of the Week. https://t.co/fCalJyxbmi pic.twitter.com/ygFlM8t8YQ
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 13, 2017
Smith’s performance is certainly worthy of the award this week, and is aided by the fact that the crack OTE writing staff failed to actually nominate anyone else for this award. (I expect the comments to swiftly correct us.)
Clip of the Week: Just a Fullback Doing Fullback Things
FB lead #1 pic.twitter.com/73iQW5FOF0
— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) November 11, 2017
Outside the Empire Play of the Week: Ole Miss WR crossing dudes over out here
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/11/11/16637514/aj-brown-touchdown-move-ole-miss-ull
(For those unwilling to click through, he Eurosteps past a defender to score a touchdown. It’s kinda impressive.)