McNutt named player of the week

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Iowa wide receiver Marvin McNutt, Jr., has been named co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, following his record breaking performance against Indiana last Saturday. Led by McNutt, Jr., the Hawkeyes scored a 45-24 win over Indiana in Iowa's homecoming game at Kinnick Stadium.

McNutt, Jr., a senior from St. Louis, Mo., led Iowa receivers with six receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns. The receiving yards and touchdown receptions were career bests. The 184 yards ranks eighth best for a single game at Iowa. His scoring receptions covered 80, 24 and 29 yards, with the 80-yard reception matching the ninth longest in school history.

McNutt, Jr., set the Iowa record for career touchdown receptions with an 80-yarder in the first quarter. He added scoring receptions of 24 and 29 yards in the second period. He now has 24 career scoring receptions, breaking the previous mark of 21, held by Tim Dwight (1994-97) and Danan Hughes (1989-92). He has at least 100 yards receiving in four of seven games in 2011 and is just 313 yards from becoming Iowa's career leader in that category.

The honor is the first for McNutt, Jr. and the third for an Iowa player this season. DL Tom Nardo was named defensive Player of the Week for his play vs. Louisiana-Monroe and QB James Vandenberg was named offensive Player of the Week following Iowa's win over Pittsburgh.

The Hawkeyes return to action this Saturday at Minnesota with kickoff set for 2:37 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on the BTN.

Here is the full list of honorees from the Big Ten Conference:

Co-Offensive Players of the Week

Marvin McNutt, Iowa

Sr., WR, St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central

· Set the Iowa career record for touchdown receptions as part of a three-touchdown performance against Indiana on Saturday

· Scored on touchdown receptions of 80, 28 and 24 yards, bringing his career total to 24, passing the school record of 21 set by former Hawkeyes Tim Dwight (1994-97)and Danan Hughes (1989-92)

· Finished the game with six receptions for a career-high 184 yards

· Claims his first career Big Ten weekly honor

· Last Iowa Offensive Player of the Week: James Vandenberg (Sept. 19, 2011)

Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

Sr., QB, Holland, Mich./Holland Christian

· Threw three touchdown passes, highlighted by the game-winning touchdown toss to Keith Nichol as time expired, in Michigan State's win over Wisconsin

· Completed 22 of 31 passes for 290 yards, his 20th career 200-yard passing game, as the Spartans rallied from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit

· Won his 22nd game as Michigan State's quarterback, becoming the program's all-time wins leader

· Claims his second career Big Ten weekly honor

· Last Michigan State Offensive Player of the Week: Kirk Cousins (Oct. 25, 2010)

Co-Defensive Players of the Week

Gerald Hodges, Penn State

Jr., LB, Paulsboro, N.J./Paulsboro

· Recorded a career-high 14 tackles in Penn State's win over Northwestern on Saturday

· Posted 1.5 sacks as a part of the seven-sack effort by the Nittany Lion defense

· Had a 63-yard interception return, which set up a Penn State touchdown to complete the scoring at 34-24

· Claims the first conference honor of his career

· Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Michael Mauti (Nov. 8, 2010)

Kawann Short, Purdue

Jr., DT, East Chicago, Ind./East Chicago Central

· Recorded career-bests with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in Purdue's 21-14 victory over Illinois on Saturday

· Finished with six total tackles as the Purdue defense held Illinois to nearly 17 points and 90 rushing yards below its season average

· Earns his first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor, having previously earned Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 11, 2010

· Last Purdue Defensive Player of the Week: Ryan Kerrigan (Nov. 15, 2010)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Kyler Elsworth, Michigan State

So., LB, Goodrich, Mich./Goodrich

· Blocked a punt in the final minute of the first half, which Michigan State recovered in the end zone to give the Spartans a 23-14 halftime edge

· Marked Michigan State's first blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown since 2006

· Claims his first career Big Ten weekly honor

· Last Michigan State Special Teams Player of the Week: Denicos Allen (Nov. 22, 2010)

Freshman of the Week

Tre Roberson, Indiana

QB, Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central

· Became the first true freshman in Hoosier history to start at quarterback

· Accounted for nearly 300 yards of total offense, completing 16 of 24 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 84 yards on 16 carries

· Claims his first career weekly honor

· Last Indiana Freshman of the Week: Shane Wynn (Oct. 10, 2011)