Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller and punter Cameron Johnston were selected today as the respective offensive and special teams players of the week by the Big Ten.
Miller gained 281 total yards and threw four touchdowns passes while leading the Buckeyes to a 31-24 victory against Wisconsin in his return from a two-game absence for a knee injury.
Johnston, a freshman from Australia, dropped all six of his punts inside the 20-yard line.
Full details come courtesy of the Big Ten:
Offensive Player of the Week
Braxton Miller, Ohio State
Jr., QB, Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne
• Completed 17 of 25 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns, leading Ohio State to a victory over Wisconsin
• Added 83 rushing yards on 22 carries, combining for 281 yards of total offense after not starting the last two games due to injury
• Threw two first-quarter touchdowns, another with one second remaining in the first half and another late in the third quarter
• Records his second career Offensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Kenny Guiton (Sept. 23, 2013)
Defensive Player of the Week
James Morris, Iowa
Sr., LB, Solon, Iowa/Solon
• Recorded eight tackles, including a sack, and an interception in Iowa’s 23-7 victory on the road against Minnesota
• Was part of the defensive effort that held Minnesota to just 30 yards rushing, more than 250 yards below its season average
• His interception came with just over four minutes to play in the game, allowing the Hawkeye offense to run out the clock
• Claims his first Defensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: B.J. Lowery (Sept. 23, 2013)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Cameron Johnston, Ohio State
Fr., P, Geelong, Australia/St. Joseph’s
• Pinned Wisconsin inside its own 20-yard line on each of his six punts, including five inside the 10-yard line, helping Ohio State defeat the Badgers
• Averaged 39.8 yards per punt, totaling 239 yards
• Finished with a long of 55 yards on his final attempt, pinning the Badgers at their own 10-yard line with 1:29 to play in the game
• Wins his first Special Teams Player of the Week honor
• Last Ohio State Special Teams Player of the Week: Corey Brown (Nov. 19, 2012)
Freshman of the Week
Aaron Bailey, Illinois
QB, Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook
• Rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown to help Illinois complete its non-conference schedule with a win over Miami (Ohio)
• Has rushed for three touchdowns and seven first downs on his 12 rushing attempts this season
• Helped the Illini to 601 yards of total offense, the team’s first such outing since 2007
• Wins his first Freshman of the Week accolade
• Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Mason Monheim (Nov. 12, 2012)
