For the second week in a row, Penn State freshman running back [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. And he wasn’t the only Nittany Lion picking up a weekly honor from the Big Ten on Monday. Senior safety [autotag]Ji’Ayir Brown[/autotag] was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following his big performance in Penn State’s road win at Auburn.
Brown played a key role as Penn State’s defense forced four Auburn turnovers in Week 3. Brown had a hand in them with a forced fumble and an interception. Brown also had four solo tackles and a sack in the game as Penn State’s defense slammed the door shut on Auburn after halftime.
This is the second time Brown has been named a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week during his career. He received the weekly honor last season following his performance against Maryland.
Brown became the first Penn State player since [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag] in 2015 to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week in back-to-back weeks. He earned it after rushing for 124 yards and two touchdowns against Auburn. Singleton had runs of 54 and 53 yards in the game and already has five runs of 40+ yards this season. Singleton has also eclipsed a previous mark set by Barkley with 334 rushing yards in his first three games of a season, breaking Barkley’s mark of 311 yards to start the 2015 season.
A Penn State player has won a Big Ten weekly award after each of its first three games this season. Quarterback [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag] was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after the season opener at Purdue. Singleton was the freshman of the week after Week 2.
Here are this week’s Big Ten Players of the Week;
- Offensive Player of the Week: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
- Defensive Player of the Week: Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
- Special Teams Player of the Week: Charles Campbell, PK, Indiana
- Freshman of the Week: Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State
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