Illinois, Maryland, USC, Washington and Wisconsin Earn Weekly Football Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 1 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week Presented by IFS.ai had been introduced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees: 

Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Jayden Maiava, USC

QB – Jr. – Palolo, Hawaii – Liberty

• Went 15-of-18 (.833) with a pair of touchdowns for 295 yards with an extended of 73 yards to guide the Trojans to a 73-13 victory over Missouri State to open the 2025 season on Saturday
• Rushed for 9 yards and scored a landing on a three-yard rush into the tip zone
• His 295 passing yards matched his second-highest passing complete final season (295 yards versus Texas A&M on Dec. 27, 2024)
• Maiava’s 295 passing yards within the first half versus Missouri State had been essentially the most by a Trojan in a primary half since former USC QB Kedon Slovis’ 347 first-half yards versus Arizona State on Nov. 9, 2019
• Last USC Offensive Player of the Week: Miller Moss (Sept. 2, 2024)

Jonah Coleman, Washington

RB – Sr. – Stockton, Calif. – Lincoln

• Led Washington to a 38-21 win over Colorado State, dashing for 177 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries
• Scored on the sport’s opening drive, a 26-yard run, and scored the sport’s ultimate landing, from third yards out within the fourth quarter
• His 177 dashing yards had been only one shy of his profession excessive
• Also caught one cross for 22 yards, and had a 38-yard carry
• First Washington Offensive Player of the Week

Defensive Player of the Week

Preston Zachman, Wisconsin

S – Gr. – Elysburg, Pa. – Southern Columbia

• Grabbed a pair of interceptions in Wisconsin’s 17-0 win over Miami (OH)
• Also recorded a pair of solo tackles within the win
• Zachman’s first INT arrange a Badger rating contained in the 5-yard line to place Wisconsin up 17-0, whereas his second sealed the victory within the recreation’s ultimate minutes
• Helped the Badger protection maintain Miami (OH) to solely 117 complete yards and an 0-for-9 clip on third down, marking the Badgers’ first shutout for the reason that 2022 opener, and the efficiency marked the primary time since 2017 that the Badgers held an opponent beneath 150 complete yards and with no profitable third down conversion
• Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week honoree: Hunter Wohler (Sept. 18, 2023)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Hank Beatty, Illinois

WR – Sr. – Rochester, Ill. – Rochester

• Broke Illinois’ 102-year-old single-game punt return yardage file, totaling 133 yards on 4 punt returns to interrupt Red Grange’s file set in 1923 (125 yards)
• Highlighting Beatty’s punt returns was a 69-yard TD within the third quarter, Illinois’ first punt return landing since 2013
• The 69-yard rating was Illinois’ longest punt return landing since Christian Morton (80 yards) vs. Indiana (11/4/2000)
• Also added 5 receptions for 108 yards, his first profession 100-yard receiving recreation
• Last Illinois Special Teams Players of the Week: Fabrizio Pinton (Oct. 10, 2022)

Freshman of the Week

Malik Washington, Maryland

QB – Glen Burnie, Md. – Archbishop Spalding

• Completed 27 of 43 passes for 258 yards, three landing and nil interceptions in his first profession recreation
• Washington’s three landing passes had been essentially the most in a real freshman’s debut within the Big Ten since 2009 (Michigan’s Tate Forcier), essentially the most by a real freshman in a Power Conference since 2018 (Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence) and essentially the most by a real freshman in a debut in opposition to an FBS college since UCLA’s Josh Rosen in 2015
• Washington’s 27 completions are essentially the most by a Maryland true freshman quarterback in a recreation in class historical past
• His 27 completions are essentially the most by a real freshman in a Power Conference debut since Jaxson Dart (USC) had 30 in opposition to Washington State in 2021
• Last Maryland Freshman of the Week: Roman Hemby (Oct. 24, 2022)

2025 Big Ten Football Players of the Week (offered by IFS.ai)

Sept. 1

O: Jayden Maiava, USC

O: Jonah Coleman, WASH

D: Preston Zachman, WIS

ST: Hank Beatty, ILL

F: Malik Washington, MD