Your Minnesota two deeps . . .

Mark Weisman still sits atop the RB depth chart, and why the heck not?

Weisman rushed for 217 yards and three TDs. If Iowa would've gouged out another possession in the second half, he might've had the equivalent in rushing yards to the commute from Iowa City to his hometown, Buffalo Grove, Ill.

Last week was one of the better performances by an Iowa RB/O-line combo since Shonn Greene and that gang delivered the Doak Walker award in 2008.

Sophomore Damon Bullock (concussion) is not on the depth chart. Freshman Greg Garmon (elbow) is. Garmon practiced last week and was in uniform for Saturday's Central Michigan game. So was true freshman walk-on Michael Malloy. So was sophomore Jordan Canzeri, who's cleared to play after suffering a torn ACL in late March.

Iowa was locked in "trying to win the game" mode, so there was no room for newbies. I expect that'll likely be the case this week, and why not? Weisman works well.

Senior Steve Bigach has carved himself a spot at DT. Iowa rotates heavily there, but still hasn't hit on a D-lineman who can generate a consistent pass rush. Iowa tried a few twists last week. DE Joe Gaglione did get one sack, showed some athleticism.

Still, pass rush is a problem. DC Phil Parker tried a few blitzes in the second half and had some success. It just wasn't sustained.

At WR, true freshman Tevaun Smith has burned his redshirt, but junior Jordan Cotton has come the closest to staking a claim at No. 3 WR, with three catches for 57 yards, including a 36-yarder. Junior Don Shumpert didn't play last week and hasn't been targeted in the last two games. Redshirt freshman Jacob Hillyer wasn't targeted. Smith did get one target.

Here's your two deeps:

SE - 6 *** Keenan Davis ^ 6-3 215 Sr.

17 Jacob Hillyer 6-4 205 #Fr. OR 81 Tevaun Smith 6-2 190 #Fr.

LT - 68 * Brandon Scherff 6-5 310 So.

78 Andrew Donnal 6-7 302 So.

LG - 60 * Matt Tobin 6-6 290 Sr.

58 Eric Simmons ^ 6-2 295 So.

C - 53 ** James Ferentz 6-2 284 Sr.

59 Connor Boffeli 6-5 290 Jr.

RG - 63 Austin Blythe 6-3 275 #Fr.

65 Jordan Walsh 6-4 270 #Fr.

RT - 70 ** Brett Van Sloten 6-7 292 Jr.

76 * Nolan MacMillan 6-6 290 Jr.

TE - 86 ** C.J. Fiedorowicz ^ 6-7 265 Jr.

82 * Ray Hamilton ^ 6-5 248 So.

QB - 16 *** James Vandenberg 6-3 212 Sr.

15 Jake Rudock 6-3 200 #Fr.

WR - 11 * Kevonte Martin-Manley 6-0 205 So.

83 * Steven Staggs 6-3 195 Sr.

RB - 45 Mark Weisman 6-0 225 So.

4 Greg Garmon ^ 6-1 200 Fr.

FB - 38 ** Brad Rogers 5-10 230 Jr.

92 ** Jonathan Gimm 6-3 240 Sr.

PK - 96 ** Mike Meyer ^ 6-2 185 Jr.

1 Marshall Koehn 6-0 160 #Fr.

LE - 99 Joe Gaglione 6-4 264 Sr.

94 Riley McMinn 6-7 245 #Fr.

LT - 54 * Steve Bigach 6-3 282 Sr.

71 Carl Davis 6-5 310 So.

RT - 90 Louis Trinca-Pasat 6-3 270 So.

97 Darian Cooper 6-2 280 #Fr.

RE - 79 * Dominic Alvis 6-4 265 Jr.

49 Melvin Spears 6-2 255 #Fr.

OLB - 20 ** Christian Kirksey ^ 6-2 220 Jr.

39 Travis Perry 6-3 230 #Fr.

MLB - 44 ** James Morris ^ 6-2 230 Jr.

* 52 Quinton Alston ^ 6-2 224 So.

WLB - 31 ** Anthony Hitchens ^ 6-1 224 Jr.

55 Marcus Collins ^ 6-0 215 #So.

LC - 19 ** B.J. Lowery ^ 5-11 188 Jr.

2 *** Greg Castillo 5-11 187 Sr.

SS - 13 ** Tom Donatell 6-2 205 Sr.

21 * Nico Law ^ 6-1 195 So.

FS - 5 ** Tanner Miller ^ 6-2 201 Jr.

37 * John Lowdermilk ^ 6-2 203 So.

RC - 18 *** Micah Hyde ^ 6-1 190 Sr.

14 Kevin Buford ^ 5-10 170 Fr.

PT - 98 Connor Kornbrath 6-6 215 Fr.

14 * John Wienke 6-5 220 Sr.

Punt returns: 18 *** Micah Hyde ^ 6-1 190 Sr.

Kickoff returns: 6 *** Keenan Davis 6-3 215 Sr.; 23 Jordan Cotton Jr.

Deep Snaps: 61 * Casey Kreiter 6-3 250 Jr.

54 * Steve Bigach 6-3 282 Sr.

Holder: 14 * John Wienke 6-5 220 Sr.

* – – Letters won

^ – – Redshirt year still available

# – – Indicates redshirt freshman

Notes05b

Big Ten players of the week (from the B1G offices):

The offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week and freshman of the week in the Big Ten for games on Sept. 8 were announced this morning. Below are this week's honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week

Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State

Jr., RB, Columbus, Ohio/Groveport Madison

• Finished with a career-high 253 yards rushing, the sixth-highest single-game total in school history, and a touchdown to help Michigan State defeat Eastern Michigan on Saturday
• Recorded his second career 200-yard rushing day and second this season, having rushed for 210 yards in a season-opening win against nationally ranked Boise State
• Became the 16th player in Michigan State history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards, while his 26 total touchdowns is 15th on the school's all-time list
• Records his second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week selection this season
• Last Michigan State Offensive Player of the Week: Le'Veon Bell (Sept. 3, 2012)

Defensive Player of the Week

Chris Borland, Wisconsin

Jr., LB, Kettering, Ohio/Archbishop Alter

• Finished with 12 tackles, including 3.5 stops for loss and a career-best two sacks, to pace the Badger defense in a victory over UTEP on Saturday
• Notches the 10th double-digit tackling effort of his career and first this season, while also posting two pass breakups
• Part of a Badger defense that held UTEP to 77 rushing yards on 33 attempts and only 5-for-18 on third-downs
• Records his fourth career Defensive Player of the Week honor, tied for second-most in conference history
• Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week: Chris Borland (Nov. 21, 2011)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

So., PR, Homewood, Ala./Homewood

• Returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in Nebraska's victory over Idaho State on Saturday
• Marked Nebraska's first punt return touchdown since October 2010
• Also added 49 rushing yards and finished the day with 129 all-purpose yards
• Earns his second Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week award
• Last Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Week: Brett Maher (Nov. 14, 2011)

Freshman of the Week

Imani Cross, Nebraska

RB, Gainesville, Ga./North Hall

• Rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in Nebraska's victory over Idaho State on Saturday
• Scored on a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter
• Recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game, helping the Huskers to 385 yards on the ground
• Wins his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: Ameer Abdullah (Sept. 12, 2011)