Martin-Manley, Lowery claim B1G honors

Iowa punt returner Kevonte Martin-Manley and cornerback B.J. Lowery each claimed Big Ten player of the week honors after their performance Saturday in a 59-3 win against Western Michigan.

Martin-Manley, a junior, returned punts of 83 and 63 yards, respectively, for touchdowns to earn Special Teams Player of the Week. He was only the third player in Big Ten history to return two punts for scores. He totaled 184 punt return yards, just 17 shy of tying Nike Kinnick's single-game record of 201 set in 1939. The returns were 59 seconds within one another.

“There were a lot of holes in their punt coverage," Martin-Manley said Saturday. "Coaches told us and I saw it on film that we would have some opportunities to make big plays today. We were able to do that."

Lowery returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns in the same game to pick up Defensive Player of the Week. The first went for 35 yards with 56 seconds left in the second quarter. Lowery's second pick-6 came just 2:38 into the third quarter on a 13-yard interception of Zach Terrell's first pass. It was Lowery's third interception this season.

"You expect guys to get better when they practice well, and I think B.J. is probably an example of that," Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Here's the Big Ten release:

Offensive Co-Players of the Week

Kenny Guiton, Ohio State     

Sr., QB, Houston, Texas/Eisenhower

•           Threw six touchdowns, an Ohio State record and the second-most in Big Ten single-game history, in Ohio State's victory over Florida A&M

•           Completed 24 of 34 passes for 215 yards while playing the first half only in his second career start

•           Connected with five different receivers on his six touchdown throws, including his second to Evan Spencer with 13 seconds left in the first half to set the program record

•           Records his second career weekly honor and second in as many weeks

•           Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Kenny Guiton (Sept. 16, 2013)

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

So., RB, Kenosha, Wis./Bradford

•           Finished with 147 yards and a career-best three touchdowns on just 16 carries, an average of 9.2 yards per carry, in Wisconsin's victory over Purdue

•           Scored on a five-yard run in the first quarter, a 27-yard sprint in the third and a 15-yarder in the third

•           Rushed for 140 yards or more in his fourth straight contest and leads the nation with 624 yards and 156.0 yards per game

•           Records his first career weekly honor

•           Last Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Week: Montee Ball (Nov. 12, 2012)

Defensive Player of the Week

B.J. Lowery, Iowa

Sr., DB, Cincinnati, Ohio/Hughes

•           Set a school record by returning two interceptions for touchdowns and added four tackles in Iowa's win over Western Michigan

•           With under a minute left in the second quarter, returned a pass 35 yards to the end zone, before returning his second pick 13 yards for a score with 12:22 to go in the third

•           Became the second Big Ten player to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a game this season, following Northwestern's Collin Ellis in Week 1

•           Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor

•           Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week: Tom Nardo (Sept. 26, 2011)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Kevonte Martin-Manley, Iowa

Jr., WR, Pontiac, Mich./Brother Rice

•           Became just the third player in Big Ten history to record two punt return touchdowns in a game in Iowa's victory over Western Michigan

•           On consecutive attempts in the second quarter, returned a punt 83 yards for a score then a second 63 yards for a score

•           His 184 punt return yards are second most in a single game in Big Ten history, behind former Hawkeye Nile Kinnick's 201 yards in 1939

•           Wins his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honor

•           Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week: Mike Meyer (Oct. 15, 2012)

Freshman of the Week

Mitch Leidner, Minnesota

QB, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South

•           In his first career start, combined for 222 yards of total offense and four rushing scores in Minnesota's win over San Jose State

•           Rushed for 151 yards on 24 carries and tied the Minnesota record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single game

•           Wins his first career Freshman of the Week accolade

•           Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Philip Nelson (Oct. 29, 2012)