Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was named Big Ten co-freshman of the week for his performance in a 23-16 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday.
Kaliakmanis, a redshirt freshman, completed 19 of 29 passes for a career-high 319 yards and two touchdowns at Camp Randall Stadium, rallying the Gophers from a 16-13 fourth-quarter deficit. He connected with Le'Meke Brockington on a slant for a 45-yard touchdown pass with 3:40 to play for the decisive points. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Kaliakmanis led a drive that ended in Matthew Trickett's 27-yard field goal that tied the score 16-16. The Antioch, Ill., native was especially sharp in the fourth quarter, going 7-for-9 for 142 yards.
Sharing the freshman honor with Kaliakmanis is Purdue running back Devin Mockobee, who had 158 all-purpose yards and a touchdown in a 30-16 win over Indiana that clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game for the Boilermakers.
The other weekly honorees were:
- Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, offense: Rushed 22 times for 216 yards and two TDs in a 45-23 win over Ohio State.
- Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown, defense: Scored touchdowns on a 53-yard fumble return and a 29-yard interception return and added a second interception in a 41-3 win over Northwestern.
- Maryland kicker Chad Ryland, special teams: Kicked three field goals and four extra points in a 37-0 win over Rutgers.
