Clark named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week

From the Big Ten home office in Chicago…

Following the first week of college football, the initial offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week in the Big Ten were announced tonight live on the Sunday night Big Ten Tonight. The Big Ten Network will announce the official players of the week every Sunday night at 9 p.m. CT.

Below are this week’s honorees.

CO-OFFENSE:

Daryll Clark, Penn State

SR, QB, Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline

Clark broke a school record with 254 passing yards in the first half on his way to setting career highs with 29 completions, 40 attempts and 353 yards through the air against Akron. The senior quarterback guided the Penn State offense to 515 total yards for the game, despite working with new starters at wide receiver and at three offensive line positions. He tossed three touchdown passes in the game and his 353 passing yards rank as the fifth-highest single-game total in school history. Clark picks up his third career weekly accolade after being honored on Oct. 13 and Nov. 24 last season.

LAST PSU OFFENSIVE POW: QB Daryll Clark on Nov. 24, 2008

Ralph Bolden, Purdue

SO, RB, Folkston, Ga./Charlton County

Bolden averaged an astounding 11.1 yards on 21 carries against Toledo to rack up a career-high 234 rushing yards, the third-highest single-game effort in program annals. After rushing for just 28 yards as a freshman last season, Bolden nearly tripled his first-year effort on his opening carry of the game, rumbling 78 yards for a touchdown. The sophomore running back added a 14-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Bolden’s effort marked just the 12th game in school history in which a Boilermaker has topped the 200-yard mark. He picks up his first career weekly honor.

LAST PUR OFFENSIVE POW: QB Curtis Painter on Nov. 24, 2008

DEFENSE:

Lee Campbell, Minnesota

SR, LB, Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast

Campbell registered a career-high 13 tackles, including 11 solo stops, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and a pass breakup to help lead Minnesota to a road victory at Syracuse. After giving up 190 total yards and 20 points in the first half, the Gophers defense rallied to hold the Orange to only 67 yards and no points in the second half and overtime to allow the offense to rally for the 23-20 victory. The senior linebacker recorded three of his solo tackles in overtime to set up the third-down pass attempt that was picked off in the endzone. Campbell earns his first career weekly laurel.

LAST MINN DEFENSIVE POW: DE Willie VanDeSteeg on Oct. 13, 2008

CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:

Jeremiha Hunter, Iowa

JR, LB, York, Pa./Harrisburg Science & Technology

Leading by only a point with one second on the clock, Hunter blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt by Northern Iowa to secure the victory. The block was the second of back-to-back blocked field goals by the Hawkeyes in the last seven seconds of the game. With Iowa holding a narrow 17-16 advantage, the visitors drove to the 23-yard line and attempted a 40-yard field goal on first down. While the hosts blocked the kick, Northern Iowa recovered with one second left to allow a second attempt from 41 yards, which was turned away by Hunter. The junior linebacker garners his first career weekly accolade.

LAST IOWA SPECIAL TEAMS POW: P Ryan Donahue on Nov. 24, 2008

Eric Ellestad, Minnesota

JR, PK, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Armstrong

In his first collegiate game, Ellestad connected on three field goals, including a 26-yarder to tie the game with less than one minute remaining and a 35-yarder to clinch the victory in the extra session at Syracuse. The junior kicker added a 26-yarder in the third quarter to pull the Gophers within 20-17. Ellestad picks up his first career weekly honor.

LAST MINN SPECIAL TEAMS POW: PK Joel Monroe on Oct. 6, 2008