Ohio State junior running back JK Dobbins was named Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Week today following Saturday’s game against Indiana where he rushed for 193 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown in a 51-10 win over the Hoosiers.
Dobbins also added two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown.
The first half of the game Saturday saw Dobbins rush for 175 yards, which has given him 316 first-half yards over the last two weeks.
This is Dobbins’ first time winning this award.
He joins Minnesota senior wide receiver Tyler Johnson who caught 10 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns in the Gophers’ tough win over Georgia Southern.
Here is the Ohio State release on Dobbins’ honor.
JK Dobbins is Big Ten co-Offensive Player of the Week
Junior running back is fourth nationally in rushing yards – 425 – and sixth in ypg: 141.7
COLUMBUS, Ohio – J.K. Dobbins had another terrific half of football Saturday vs. the Indiana Hoosiers and it was impressive enough to earn the junior from LaGrange, Texas co-offensive player of the week honors in the Big Ten Conference.
It was actually one half plus two third quarter carries for Dobbins, who rushed for 193 yards against the Hoosiers – 175 in the first half alone – and scored twice to lead the 51-10 victory.
Dobbins had a 56- yard run – his second run over 50 yards this season – in the first half but that wasn’t his signature play. The play that was came on a 26-yard run where he initially slipped but recovered, stiff-armed two Hoosiers out of the way, broke a tackle, dragged a defender seven yards and then plowed over yet another defender to score, giving Ohio State a 30-3 lead.
“I think we’ll see some things on film with J.K. that were really good,” head coach Ryan Day predicted following the win.
Dobbins has rushed for 425 yards so far this season and is averaging 7.1 yards per carry. His yardage total is fourth nationally, his 141.7 yards per game ranks sixth and his yards per carry average ranks 19th.
Nearing 3,000
Dobbins has moved into 14th place among all-time Ohio State rushers with 2,881 yards and needs 119 yards to become just the 11th Buckeye to top 3,000 rush yards. Directly in front of Dobbins are Antonio Pittman (2,945 yards), Michael Wiley (2,951), Carlos Snow (3,999) and Pepe Pearson (3,076). Dobbins will climb into Ohio State’s all-time Top 10 once he passes those four.
Here is the Big Ten’s release on all of the honorees this week.
Following Big Ten football games on Sept. 14, the Co-Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week and Co-Freshmen of the Week in the Big Ten were announced this morning. Below are this week’s honorees:
Co-Offensive Players of the Week
Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
Sr., WR, Minneapolis, Minn./Minneapolis North
- Caught 10 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns in Minnesota’s victory against Georgia Southern
- Touchdown receptions included a career-long 73-yard touchdown catch and a 2-yard score with 13 seconds left to secure the victory
- In 16 games since the start of the 2018 season, Johnson has 95 catches for 1,408 yards and 15 touchdowns
- Earns his first career Offensive Player of the Week award
- Last Minnesota Offensive Player of the Week: Rodney Smith (Oct. 24, 2016)
J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
Jr., RB, La Grange, Texas/LaGrange
- Rushed 22 times for 193 yards and a touchdown to lead Ohio State to a victory Saturday at Indiana
- Had 175 yards rushing at halftime, giving him 316 first-half yards over the past two games
- Added two catches for 14 yards, including a four-yard touchdown reception
- Claims his first career Offensive Player of the Week award
- Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Dwayne Haskins (Nov. 26, 2018)
Defensive Player of the Week
Joe Gaziano, Northwestern
Sr., DL, Scituate, Mass./Xaverian Brothers
- Recorded nine tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, in Northwestern’s win against UNLV
- Added 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery
- Now has 22 career sacks, giving him sole possession of third place on the all-time list at Northwestern
- Receives his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor
- Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Paddy Fisher (Oct. 30, 2017)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Keith Duncan, Iowa
Jr., K, Weddington, N.C./Weddington
- Set a career high with four field goals on four attempts in Iowa’s victory at Iowa State
- Converted from 25, 40, 42 and 39 yards in the contest, with the final kick proving to be the game-winner with 4:51 left in the fourth quarter
- Improved to 8-for-8 on field goal attempts this season, including 4-fo-4 on attempts from 40 yards or longer
- Claims his second career Special Teams Player of the Week honor and first since 2016
- Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week: Riley McCarron (Nov. 21, 2016)
Co-Freshmen of the Week
D.J. Johnson, Iowa
DB, Indianapolis, Ind./North Central
- Recorded a career-high eight tackles in the Hawkeyes’ victory against Iowa State
- Notched a team-high seven solo stops
- Registered two pass breakups, including one on Iowa State’s final drive of the game to preserve Iowa’s win
- Earns his first career Freshman of the Week award
- Last Iowa Freshman of the Week: Riley Moss (Oct. 8, 2018)
Drake Anderson, Northwestern
RB, Chadler, Ariz./Chandler
- Rushed 26 times for 141 yards and a touchdown in the Wildcats’ victory against UNLV
- Recorded his first-career rushing touchdown on a seven-yard run
- Established new career highs for carries and rushing yards
- Receives his first career Freshman of the Week award
- Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: John Moten IV (Nov. 28, 2016)
