Spartans Get a TRIFECTA in the Big Ten Players of the Week

 

Dantonio Lands Three of His Spartans on the Big Ten Players of the Week List! Photo courtesy of Bill Marklevits.

The Big Ten has announced football players of the week for games on Saturday, Oct. 23, including honorees on offense, defense and special teams, along with a freshman of the week.

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Below are this week's honorees:

 

OFFENSE:

Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

JR, QB, Holland, Mich./Holland Christian

Cousins matched or surpassed career highs with 29 completions, 43 attempts and three passing scores at Northwestern, the last of which gave Michigan State its first lead with two minutes left to maintain its undefeated record. The junior quarterback completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 331 yards. With MSU trailing 27-21 with less than 10 minutes remaining, Cousins completed seven of eight passes to drive the Spartans 88 yards. He capped the drive with a nine-yard scoring strike with two minutes left to give them their first lead, 28-27. Cousins earns the first weekly accolade of his career.

LAST MSU OFFENSIVE POW: WR Blair White on Oct. 18, 2009.

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CO-DEFENSE:

Tyler Hoover, Michigan State

SO, DE, Novi, Mich./Novi

Hoover matched his career high with nine tackles, including a career-best two sacks, and forced a key fumble at Northwestern. Trailing 7-0 in the first quarter, the sophomore defensive end forced a Wildcat fumble on first-and-goal to stop a potential scoring drive. He added two sacks later in the game and collects the first weekly laurel of his career.

LAST MSU DEFENSIVE POW: LB Greg Jones on Oct. 18, 2010.

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CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:

Aaron Bates, Michigan State

SR, P, New Concord, Ohio/John Glenn

Bates recorded six punts for 258 yards and succesfully converated a fake punt to help Michigan State rally from a 17-point deficit at Northwestern. The senior punter placed one boot inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 53 yards. Trailing 24-14 in the fourth quarter, Bates completed a 21-yard pass on fourth-and-11 to give MSU a first down. The Spartans scored on the next play to narrow the gap to 24-21 on their way to a 35-27 victory. The Ohio native collects weekly laurels for the second time this season and in his career, after being honored on Sept. 20.

LAST MSU SPECIAL TEAMS POW: KR/PR Keshawn Martin on Oct. 4, 2010.