OTE’s Big Ten Players of Week 2

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 2 winners:

Offensive Players of the Week: Iowa’s Nate Stanley and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor

While we don’t always agree with the conference on who players of the week should be, this week they seem to have gotten it right. The fact that these two combined for 8 touchdowns and over 500 yards of offense left us with a fairly easy choice this week.

Honorable Mention goes out to Maryland’s Ty Johnson, whose 5 carries against Towson tallied 124 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Defensive Player of the Week: Jonathan Celestin, Minnesota Linebacker

Celestin earns this honor through his statline, as provided by WhiteSpeedReceiver: “10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 2 QB hurries, and 1 wallop.” When asked what exactly the wallop was, the above video was provided. That says it all, really.

Outside The Empire Honorable Mention goes to Western Michigan’s Darius Phillips, for recording a pick, scoop and score, and kick return touchdown against Michigan State. Our resident Spartan requested this mention, so you know it’s probably deserved.

Honorable Mention goes out to Iowa’s Josey Jewell, in part because I totally forgot him last week, and also....I’m just receiving an important bulletin. Hold on please.

...moving on.

Special Teams Player of the Week: J-Shun Harris, Indiana

(There should be a clip of J-Shun’s punt return TD against Virginia here, but due to circumstances beyond my control, there isn’t.)

For the first time since 2015, Indiana returned a punt for a touchdown (last return TD: Mitchell Paige against Michigan, after having done the same against Western Kentucky earlier in the year). J-Shun Harris brought the Virginia punt back 44 yards to paydirt, and finally sealed the game for the Hoosiers.

Honorable Mention goes to Northwestern punter Hunter Niswander, for his 7 punt, 348 yard performance in an otherwise forgettable game against Duke.

Fail of the Week: Rutgers losing to Eastern Michigan

Look, losing to MAC teams does happen from time to time, but this was literally a game you had chances to win at the end, and you gave every one of them back. Do better.

Dishonorable Mention goes to the moment most of you saw from outside the Empire, but it’s too hilarious to not post again:

Fan Interaction of the Week: James Daniels, Iowa

How do you celebrate a big win in a close game? In Iowa, it’s apparently done like this: