Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota and Rutgers Earn Weekly Football Honors

• Went 18-for-22, passing for 292 yards and three touchdowns in the 45-14 win over Richmond, completing 15-straight passes to close out the game
• The 292 yards marked a career-high for the second week in a row, topping last week’s 279 yards in his starting debut vs. Central Michigan, while the 18 completions matches last week’s 18-for-31 passing
• Kim is now 36-for-53 for 571 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions through the first two games of the season
• The Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award
• Last Michigan State Offensive Player of the Week: Kenneth Walker III (Nov. 1, 2021)

Defensive Player of the Week
Sebastian Castro, Iowa
DB – Sr. – Oak Lawn, Ill. – Richards

• Recorded a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter that gave the Hawkeyes a 17-0 lead in an eventual 20-13 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series win at Iowa State
• Castro’s interception was the first of his career and it was his second career touchdown
• Finished the game with four tackles and a key fourth quarter pass breakup that helped Iowa prevail in Ames for the sixth consecutive time and give head coach Kirk Ferentz his 200th career victory
• Earns the first Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career
• Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: Jack Campbell (Nov. 20, 2022)

Special Teams Player of the Week
Jai Patel, Rutgers
K – So. – Monmouth Junction, N.J. – South Brunswick

• Went 3-for-3 on field goals in the Scarlet Knights’ 36-7 win over Temple
• Connected on a career-long 51-yard field goal, tied for the seventh-longest make in program history, and added successful attempts from 43 and 23 yards out
• Contributed three extra points in as many attempts
• Garners the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career
• Last Rutgers Special Teams Player of the Week: Adam Korsak (Nov. 1, 2021)

 
Freshman of the Week
Darius Taylor, Minnesota
RB – Detroit, Mich. – Walled Lake Western

• Rushed 33 times for 193 yards and one touchdown in a 25-6 win against Eastern Michigan
• His 193 yards were second most in school history for a true freshman, behind Darrell Thompson who rushed for 205 yards against Bowling Green in 1986
• Added 13 receiving yards to finish with 206 all-purpose yards
• Earns the first Freshman of the Week honor of his career
• Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Athan Kaliakmanis (Nov. 28, 2022)

2023 Big Ten Football Players of the Week
 
Sept. 5
O: Drew Allar, So., QG, PSU
D: Miles Scott, So., DB, ILL
D: Tyler Nubin, Sr., S, MINN
S: Dragan Kesich, Sr., K, MINN
F: Dillon Thieneman, DB, PUR
 
Sept. 11
O: Noah Kim, Jr., QB, MSU
D: Sebastian Castro, Sr., DB, IOWA
S: Jai Patel, So., K, RU
F: Darius Taylor, RB, MINN