Sept. 12, 2005

OFFENSE:
Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern FR, RB, Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban
Sutton becomes the first freshman in school history to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors after setting career highs in every category with 214 rushing yards on 30 carries (7.1 avg.) and four touchdowns, including the game-clinching score with 62 seconds left against Northern Illinois. The true freshman surpassed the century mark for a second straight game after breaking loose for 104 yards in the season opener. His four rushing scores equaled a school record set by four other players, most recently when Jason Wright tallied four touchdowns against Illinois in 2003. Sutton also hauled in two passes for 16 yards against NIU to rack up 230 all-purpose yards. He is currently tied for the Big Ten lead with six touchdowns through two games while rating second in the league with 159.0 yards per contest.

DEFENSE:
A.J. Hawk, Ohio State SR, LB, Centerville, Ohio/Centerville
In a narrow loss to No. 2 Texas, Hawk spearheaded the Buckeyes defensive attack with a game-high 12 tackles, including seven solo stops, three tackles for loss (including two sacks), one interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The two-time Preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year picked off his seventh career pass in the second quarter and returned it 24 yards to set up an OSU field goal to take a 13-10 lead. On the next Longhorns' possession, Hawk recovered a fumble to set up another field goal and a 16-10 advantage. The senior linebacker's three tackles for loss set Texas back 12 yards, including 10 yards lost on his two sacks. This marks the second weekly accolade for Hawk, as he was also honored on Sept. 29, 2003.

CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:
Marquice Cole, Northwestern JR, PR, Hazelcrest, Ill./Hillcrest
Cole returned two punts for 101 yards (50.5 avg.), including an 81-yard scoring sprint in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 17-14 lead. The junior defensive back's 81-yard touchdown marked the fourth-longest return in school history and the longest punt return since Sam Simmons went 87 yards for a score against Texas Christian in 1999. Cole also starred on the defensive side of the ball, racking up eight tackles, a 23-yard interception return and covering the intended receiver on the final play of the game when Northern Illinois attempted a two-point conversion while trailing 38-37 with two seconds to play. This is Cole's first weekly honor.

Brandon Williams, Wisconsin SR, KR/PR, St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood East
Williams compiled 143 return yards against Temple, running back the visitor's only kickoff of the game 38 yards and tallying four punt returns for 105 yards (26.3 avg.) and a 66-yard touchdown. The senior wideout, who already ranks fourth in the Big Ten in both kickoff returns (86) and yardage (1,856) for a career, recorded his first career touchdown on a punt return and his first score of any kind since the 2003 campaign when he reached the end zone on a reception against Penn State. This is the first weekly honor for Williams.