Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, September 8, 2015

With the opening week of the college football season in the books, the Big Ten office released its Week 1 players of the week. See the season's first honorees inside.

[ MORE: Best of Week 1 | Week 1 picks revisited | Power poll | Bowl projections ]

Offensive Player of the Week: Braxton Miller, Ohio State, Sr., HB, Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne

  • Registered 140 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns to guide Ohio State to a road victory over Virginia Tech
  • Both touchdowns covered more than 50 yards, with a 54-yard reception and 53-yard run in the third quarter to turn a 17-13 deficit into a 27-17 lead
  • Finished the contest with two catches for 78 yards and six carries for 62 yards
  • Records the fourth Offensive Player of the Week award of his career and first since Oct. 28, 2013
  • Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: J.T. Barrett (Nov. 10, 2014)

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Defensive Player of the Week: Anthony Walker, Northwestern, So., LB, Miami, Fla./Monsignor Edward Pace

  • Recorded 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a half sack as Northwestern defeated Stanford 16-6
  • Also recovered a fumble in the second quarter
  • Anchored a Wildcat defense that held Stanford to 240 yards and six points, the lowest totals for the Cardinal since 2007
  • Claims his first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor
  • Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Ibraheim Campbell (Nov. 24, 2014)

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Special Teams Player of the Week: William Likely, Maryland, Jr., DB, Belle Glade, Fla./Glade Central

  • Recorded a Big Ten and Maryland record 233 punt return yards in Saturday's victory over Richmond, breaking the conference mark of 201 yards set by Iowa?s Nile Kinnick in 1939
  • Returned one punt 67 yards for a touchdown
  • Added 63 kick return yards to finish the contest with 296 all-purpose yards
  • Claims his first career Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honor
  • Last Maryland Special Teams Player of the Week: Brad Craddock (Nov. 24, 2014)

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Freshman of the Week: Clayton Thorson, Northwestern, QB, Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North

  • Guided Northwestern to a victory over Stanford, rushing for the game?s only touchdown
  • Finished the contest with 173 yards of total offense, including 12 completions for 105 passing yards
  • Added 68 rushing yards, including a 42-yard touchdown run in the second quarter
  • Wins his first career weekly award
  • Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: Justin Jackson (Oct. 13, 2014)