Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark and defensive end Aaron Maybin have been honored by the Big Ten for their individual performances against Wisconsin last weekend.
Clark was tabbed the conference offensive player of the week, Maybin was named co-defensive player of the week.
OFFENSE:
Daryll Clark, Penn State, JR, QB, Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline
Clark compiled a career-best 244 passing yards and drove his offense past 40 points for the fifth time this season in a 48-7 triumph at Wisconsin. The junior quarterback completed 16-of-25 passes with one touchdown and also tallied two rushing scores for the first time in his career. After the Badgers pulled within 17-7 in the second quarter, Clark guided PSU to touchdowns on its next three drives. The scoring streak started with his two rushing scores and was capped by a 44-yard strike to give the visitors a 38-7 third quarter lead. Clark picks up his first career weekly accolade.
LAST PSU OFFENSIVE POW: RB Evan Royster on Sept. 8, 2008.
CO-DEFENSE:
Willie VanDeSteeg, Minnesota, SR, DE, Silver Lake, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake
VanDeSteeg tallied five tackles, three sacks, forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and deflected a late pass which led to an interception in a 27-20 victory at Illinois. The senior defensive end recorded his third sack with just over five minutes left in the game, forcing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and a 27-13 lead. The hosts trimmed the deficit to 27-20 and drove to Minnesota’s 25-yard line on the ensuing possession before VanDeSteeg broke through and got a hand on the Illini quarterback’s pass attempt, leading to an interception to clinch the win. He earns his second career weekly laurel and the first by a Gophers’ defensive player since 2006.
LAST MINN DEFENSIVE POW: DE Willie VanDeSteeg on Nov. 13, 2006.
Aaron Maybin, Penn State, SO, DE, Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron
Maybin filled the stat sheet with six tackles, a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup to spearhead a Penn State defensive effort which forced four turnovers and held Wisconsin to one touchdown. The sophomore defensive end picked up his eighth solo sack on the year, which tops the Big Ten and is tied for the national lead. Maybin’s first forced fumble was recovered just 16 yards from the endzone and led to a touchdown and a 24-7 lead while his second forced fumble occurred on a fourth quarter sack. He collects his first career weekly laurel.
LAST PSU DEFENSIVE POW: LB Navorro Bowman on Sept. 22, 2008.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Brett Swenson, Michigan State, JR, K, Pompano Beach, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas
Swenson picked up his second straight weekly accolade after matching a career-high with 16 points while setting a school record for consecutive field goals in a victory at Northwestern. The junior kicker was a perfect three-for-three with field goals from 26, 42 and 34 yards. Since missing his first attempt of the season, Swenson has converted a school-record 15 straight field goals, breaking the previous record of 13 straight set by Paul Edinger in 1998. He earns the second weekly award of his career.
LAST MSU SPECIAL TEAMS POW: K Brett Swenson on Oct. 6, 2008.
