Gophers Wilson, Myrick Earn Weekly Big Ten Honors
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Gophers football team is off to a 2-0 start in the Big Ten Conference, and two players were recognized by the league after their win over Northwestern on Saturday.
Linebacker Damien Wilson is leading the league in tackles with 11 per game, and he collected a career-high 15 tackles with 1.5 sacks to lead the Gophers defense in the victory. Wilson was named the a Co-Defensive Player of the Week. It's his first Defensive Player of the Week award. The last Gophers player to get one was Michael Carter on Oct. 29, 2012.
Sophomore Jalen Myrick was also named a Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. His 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was the game-winner for the Gophers in the victory over Northwestern. It came after the Wildcats scored to tie the game 17-17 and electrified the crowd at TCF Bank Stadium.
It's his first league award and the team's first since last November, when punter Peter Mortell earned it.
Minnesota (5-1, 2-0) hosts Purdue on Saturday for homecoming and would be bowl eligible with a victory.