Big Ten names Players of the Week after Week 2

Boise State gave Oregon another Idaho scare. Bowling Green had Penn State sweating in State College. Iowa State stunned Iowa. Illinois knocked off a then-ranked Kansas squad. A weekend full of upsets and near upsets for the Big Ten is now in the rear view mirror, but, before turning the page, the league is honoring its top performers from Week 2.

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The Big Ten handed out Offensive Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week, Special Teams Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week awards. On3 is highlighting each of those honorees and their outings this past weekend.

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Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week: Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai

Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai tied his career high in Week 1 with 165 yards on the ground against Howard. In Week 2, Monangai shattered that mark with 208 rushing yards in a blowout win over Akron. The Roseland, New Jersey, native also found the end zone three times — that’s the second time in his career he’s accomplished that feat.

His prolific performance against the Zips included a 62-yard scamper, the longest run he’s recorded with the Scarlet Knights. Monangai hasn’t played the fourth quarter of Rutgers’ first two games but is second nationally with 373 rushing yards.

Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week: Illinois CB Xavier Scott

Illinois cornerback Xavier Scott had himself a night against then-No. 19 Kansas. Scott is the only player in the country to cause three turnovers in a single game this season. He picked off two passes: The first came on the game’s opening series, and the second took place with 36 seconds left in the half. Scott brought the second interception back to the house to give the Fighting Illini a 13-10 advantage going into intermission.

Then he sealed the upset, 23-17 victory with a strip-sack on the final play of the game. Scott rounded out his unforgettable showing with eight solo tackles to his name.

Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week: Oregon WR Tez Johnson

Oregon needed two special teams touchdowns to take down Boise State this past weekend. Wide receiver Tez Johnson was responsible for one of them. He ran back a Broncos punt 85 yards to give the Ducks a 27-20 lead late in the third quarter. In the process, Johnson became the first Oregon player to return a punt for a touchdown since safety Ugo Amadi in 2018.

Johnson led the Ducks with 86 receptions last season but was held to three catches for -1 receiving yard against Boise State. He still found his way to the end zone, though, by making a game-changing play on special teams.

Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Michigan State WR Nick Marsh

A Big Ten debut turned breakout debut: That was the story over the weekend for Michigan State true freshman wide receiver Nick Marsh. A week removed from catching just one pass against Florida Atlantic, Marsh reeled in eight passes for 194 yards and a score in a 27-24 win at Maryland.

Of those 194 receiving yards, 77 came on a game-tying touchdown with less than five minutes to go. Marsh joined the Spartans this season as a four-star prospect and the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 29 wideout in the 2024 class.