Watch: Hilinski, Brown Headlines Week 0 Big Ten Football Players of the Week | August 29, 2022

0:00 - Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Chase Brown, Illinois - RB – Jr. - Led the Illinois offense to a 38-6 win over Wyoming in Week 0, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to three receptions (on three targets) for 16 yards and a touchdown - Brown's 151 yards pushed him past the 2,000-yard milestone for his collegiate career, while his rushing yards are the most in a season-opener by an Illinois rusher since at least 1945 Recorded the first receiving touchdown of his career with a 14-yard TD reception from Tommy DeVito on the game's opening drive - Earns his third career Offensive Player of the Week award - Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Chase Brown (Oct. 25, 2021) 03:21 - Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern - QB – Jr. - Completed 27-of-38 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s win over Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland, becoming the first Northwestern quarterback to throw for 300+ yards and two or more touchdowns without an interception since Brett Basanez against Michigan State in 2005 - Finished the first half completing 20-of-23 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns, while his 20 completions are more than Northwestern had in all but three games last season - Hillinski is the first Northwestern quarterback to complete over 70 percent (71.1) of his passes and throw for 300+ yards since Clayton Thorson against Bowling Green (76.7, 370) in 2017 - Earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award - Last Northwestern Offensive Player of the Week: Evan Hull (Sept. 27, 2021) 08:53 - Defensive Player of the Week: Cameron Mitchell, Northwestern - CB – Jr. - Recorded his second-career interception in the fourth quarter and returned it 42 yards into Nebraska territory, setting up the eventual game-winning touchdown for Northwestern - Also tallied two pass breakups, tying his career-high - Finished with six total tackles, tied for third-most on the Wildcats - The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns the first Defensive Player of the Week accolade of his career - Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Blake Gallagher (Nov. 23, 2021) 10:10 - Special Teams Player of the Week: Luke Akers, Northwestern - P – Jr. – - Downed four punts inside the 20, including three punts pinned inside the 10-yard line on six attempts in Northwestern's 31-28 win over Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland at the 2022 Aer Lingus Classic - Averaged 40.83 yards per punt and downed Nebraska on the 1-yard line on his first-ever punt with the Wildcats - On his final punt of the game, pinned the Cornhuskers on their own 4-yard line with 2:12 remaining in the game, setting up the game-sealing interception - Garners the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career - Last Northwestern Special Teams Player of the Week: Charlie Kuhbander (Oct. 26, 2020) #illinoisfightingillini #northwesternwildcats