Johnson earns player of the week honors

IOWA CITY, IA - Iowa linebacker Troy Johnson has been named Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week for his play in Iowa's 12-0 victory over Minnesota last Saturday in Kinnick Stadium. He becomes the eighth Hawkeye to be named Big Ten Player of the Week this season. He shared this week's defensive honor with Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman.

Johnson is a 6-2, 235-pound junior from Lakeland, FL. He was a starter for the first time in his career in the Minnesota game. He had 11 tackles and a sack for a minus four yards. He also forced a fumble and fell on it for the recovery and was credited with breaking up a pass. He replaced the injured Jeremiha Hunter in the lineup.

Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn won league honors twice this season. He was defensive player of the week following his play in Iowa's win over Michigan State and he won special team laurels against Penn State. Linebacker Pat Angerer won defensive honors in the Penn State game. Punter Ryan Donahue shared the special team honors against Arizona while Hunter won co-special team honors after the Northern Iowa game. Defensive back Tyler Sash won co-defensive honors after Iowa's win at Iowa State and tight end Tony Moeaki won the offensive award following Iowa's win over Michigan.

It's the third time Iowa has had eight Big Ten Players of the Week. It also occurred during the 1997 and 2002 seasons. The Hawkeyes had seven during the 2003 and 2008 campaigns.

The nationally-ranked Hawkeyes (13th by the AP and the USA Today Coaches Polls) finished the regular season with a 10-2 overall record and tied for second in the Big Ten with a 6-2 mark. Iowa will play in a yet to be determined bowl game, most likely on New Year's Day or later.