Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, BTN.com staff, October 6, 2013
Every Saturday night during the Big Ten football season, BTN.com posts its ?U.S. Marine Corps: Leaders of the Week.? The feature is designed to honor some of the top individual Big Ten performances. Check out our Week 6 stars in this post.
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska. The Huskers' junior running back rushed for a career-high 225 yards and added two touchdowns in the Huskers' commanding 39-19 win over Illinois. Abdullah carried the ball just 20 times, averaging 11.3 yards per tote. His 690 total rushing yards ranks second in the Big Ten behind Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon.
Watch Abdullah's 43-yard TD run:
Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State. The Buckeyes fed their big back 26 times and he delivered in Ohio State's 40-30 memorable win over Northwestern. Hyde rushed for a career-high 169 yards and three touchdowns in the much-anticipated matchup. Hyde had 112 of those 169 yards in the second half. The Buckeyes' senior back also added four catches for 38 yards in the victory.
Watch Hyde's game-winning TD run.
Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State. Robinson is making a strong case for first-team All-American honors. This junior wideout had another spectacular day, hauling in a game-high 12 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson also added 10 yards rushing in Penn State's 44-24 loss to Indiana. Robinson now has 16 career TD catches, moving into to tie with O.J. McDuffie for fifth place in Penn State football history.
Watch Allen Robinson spin away from a tackle and take it to the house:
Anthony Hitchens, Christian Kirksey & James Morris, LBs, Iowa. Yes, all three of these guys. This group continues to impress on a weekly basis. The Hawkeyes' trio of linebackers combined for 31 tackles and an interception in a 26-14 loss to Michigan State. Morris and Hitchens led the way with 12 tackles each, while Kirksey added seven tackles of his own in the loss.
Watch Morris' fourth quarter INT:
Devin Funchess, TE, Michigan: Michigan's sophomore tight end had a huge day in the Wolverines' convincing 42-13 home win over Minnesota. Funchess hauled in a game-high seven catches for career-best 151 yards and a 24-yard touchdown in the Wolverines' victory. The 6-foot-6 Funchess has now totaled 296 yards and three touchdowns as Michigan improves to 5-0 this season.
Watch Funchess' 24-yard TD catch:
Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State. Dennard had an outstanding defensive performance in the Spartans' 26-14 victory over Iowa. The Spartans' senior captain had two huge interceptions and added a team-high eight tackles in the win. This was Dennard's third career two-interception game in an MSU uniform.
Watch Dennard's first INT:
Nate Sudfeld and Tre Roberson, QBs, Indiana. The Hoosiers' QB duo showed up in a big way Saturday in Indiana's 44-24 win over Penn State. Sudfeld completed 23-of-38 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns in the win. While Sudfeld got it done through the air, Roberson was most effective on the ground, punching in back-to-back rushing scores in the fourth quarter, which helped seal the win for the Hoosiers. Roberson also completed his only pass of the game for 15 yards.
Watch Sudfeld's 36-yard TD pass to Kofi Hughes:
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State. Cook had the best game of his career in a 26-14 victory over Iowa. The Spartans' sophomore signal caller set career highs in completions (25), attempts (44), and passing yards (277) against a Hawkeyes defense that allowed just 186 yards per game in the air entering Saturday. Cook's 46-yard touchdown pass to Macgarrett Kings Jr. in the second quarter marked the longest play from scrimmage this season by the Spartans. Cook has now thrown for 614 yards and seven touchdowns over his the past three games.
Watch Cook's 46-yard TD pass to Macgarrett Kings Jr:
Josh Ferguson, RB, Illinois. Ferguson was one of the lone bright spots in Illinois' 39-19 loss to Nebraska. The sophomore running back totaled 196 yards and a touchdown in the game. Ferguson carried the ball 19 times for 114 yards, and added eight catches for 82 yards. He has topped 100 yards in four of Illinois' five games this season.
Watch Ferguson's 1-yard TD run:
Rashad Lawrence, WR, Northwestern. The Wildcats' senior wideout had a monster game in a 40-30 loss to Ohio State. Lawrence had a game-high eight catches for 149 yards, despite having just three total catches this season heading into Saturday's game.