Around The Big Ten – December 3

More on this week’s edition of “Big Ten Whip Around” — start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SiriusXM app now.

FOOTBALL

Offensive Player of the Week 
Kaytron Allen, Penn State 
RB – Sr. – Norfolk, Va. – IMG Academy 

• Rushed for a career-high 226 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in Penn State’s 40-36 win over Rutgers on Saturday
• Allen’s 226 yards are PSU’s most in a  game since Larry Johnson’s 279 against Michigan State in 2002
• Had runs of 55, 43, and 50 yards, and became the 23^rd Big Ten player in history to reach the 4,000 career rushing yards mark on his 55-yard run in the first quarter
• Scored his 39^th career rushing touchdown in the second quarter, breaking a tie for third all-time at Penn State
• Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Kaytron Allen (Nov. 24, 2025)

Defensive Player of the Week 
John Nestor, Minnesota 
DB – Jr. – Chicago, Ill. – Marist  

• Recorded nine tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in Minnesota’s 17-7 win over Wisconsin
• Both of Nestor’s interceptions came in the third quarter, making him the first Gopher with multiple picks in a quarter since Tyler Nubin versus Rutgers in 2022
• Joins Antoine Winfield Jr. (2019) as the only Gopher since at least 2000 to have multiple games in a season with two interceptions
• Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week honoree: Koi Perich (Oct. 14, 2024)

Co-Special Teams Players of the Week  
Alante Brown, Michigan State 
KR/WR – Gr. – Chicago, Ill. – Simeon 

• Sparked Michigan State with a 92-yard kickoff return in the third quarter to help the Spartans defeat Maryland, 38-28
• It was the Spartans’ first kick return TD since R.J. Shelton against Penn State in 2014
• Missed the previous nine games due to injury and had a chance to play in his final collegiate game, serving as Michigan State’s honorary team captain
• Last Michigan State Special Teams Player of the Week honoree: Jonathan Kim (Oct. 21, 2024)

Atticus Sappington, Oregon 
K – R-Sr.– Portland, Ore. – Central Catholic 

• Accounted for 14 points in Oregon’s 26-14 win over Washington by going a career-best 4-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points
• In the third quarter, the redshirt-senior made a career long 51-yard field goal, the longest field goal by a Duck since Oct. 25, 2008 (Matt Evensen, 52 yards vs. Arizona State)
• Also made field goals from 32, 37 and 46 yards throughout the game
• Becomes the first Duck with four made field goals in a game since Aidan Schneider did on Oct. 29, 2016
• Last Oregon Special Teams Player of the Week honoree: Atticus Sappington (Nov. 10, 2025)

Freshman of the Week  
Alessio Milivojevic, Michigan State 
QB – Naperville, Ill. – St. Francis  

• Threw a career-high four touchdowns, with a career-best 27 completions, for 27-of-39 passing for 292 yards in the Spartans’ 38-28 win over Maryland
• Connected on touchdown passes of one yard, nine yards, 10 yards and 15 yards
• Milivojevic found Omari Kelly in the end zone with under two minutes remaining on fourth down to seal the win for the Spartans
• Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Nick Marsh (Oct. 21, 2024)

VOLLEYBALL

Player of the Week 
Mimi Colyer, Wisconsin 
Sr. – OH – Lincoln, Calif. 

• Led the Badgers to a 2-0 week with wins over Northwestern and No. 18 Minnesota
• Against the Wildcats, Colyer recorded her 41^st career and seventh of the season, double-double with 20 kills and 12 digs, also surpassing 1,000 career digs
• The 20 kills also marked her 10^th match with 20 or more kills this season
• Recorded 13 kills (13-2-30) and nine digs against the nationally ranked Gophers
• In the seven sets, Colyer averaged 4.71 kills per set, 3.00 digs per set and 5.43 points per set while also hitting .300 or better in each match (.366 vs. Northwestern; .367 vs. Minnesota)
• Last Wisconsin Player of the Week: Mimi Colyer (Nov. 17, 2025)

Defensive Player of the Week 
Lola Schumacher, UCLA 
So. – L – Carmel, Ind. 

• Helped UCLA to a 2-0 week with a pair of 3-2 wins at Michigan and Michigan State
• Recorded 20 digs (4.00 digs/set) at Michigan and tallied 21 digs (4.20 digs/set) at Michigan State
• Added five assists and a service ace
• Last UCLA Defensive Player of the Week: Marianna Singletary (Oct. 13, 2025)

Setter of the Week  
Reese Messer, USC 
Fr. – S – Olathe, Kan. 

• Totaled 87 assists to average 12.43 assists per set in two road wins at Michigan State and Michigan
• Tallied 39 assists and set USC to .333 hitting to go with seven digs, three blocks and three kills in a sweep of Michigan State
• Racked up 48 assists and set USC to .313 hitting with 10 digs, two blocks and two kills in a 3-1 win at Michigan
• Produced her 10^th double-double of the season with 48 assists and 10 digs against the Wolverines
• Last USC Setter of the Week: Reese Messer (Nov. 3, 2025)

Freshman of the Week 
Abigail Mullen, USC 
OPP – Kansas City, Mo.  

• Averaged 3.93 points per set (3.14 kills/set) with .362 hitting in two road wins at Michigan State and Michigan
• Had 11 kills and 10 digs while hitting .348 and added two blocks and an assist for 12.0 total points at Michigan State
• Recorded her seventh double-double of the season in the win over the Spartans
• Had 11 kills (.375 hitting) and six digs to go with three service aces and three blocks for 15.5 points in the win at Michigan
• Last USC Freshman of the Week: Abigail Mullen (Nov. 10, 2025)

HOCKEY

First Star
Will Horcoff, Michigan
So. – F – Birmingham, Mich. — U.S. National Team Development Program
2025 NHL Draft: 1st Rd, 24th overall, Pittsburgh

• Produced a five-point weekend in helping top-ranked Michigan to a road sweep of Harvard, which was ranked 18th in the USA Hockey poll
• Scored the decisive goal both nights, including the overtime game-winner on Saturday
• Finished the series with four goals and plus-three rating
• Collects a Star Award for the second time this season, was named Third Star on Nov. 4
• Becomes the second Wolverine in as many weeks to receive First Star honors

Second Star
Javon Moore, Minnesota
Fr. – F – Carver, Minn. – Sioux Falls (USHL)
2024 NHL Draft: 4th Rd, 112th overall, Ottawa

• Scored the game-winning goal with 35 seconds left in overtime to lift Minnesota to a 6-5 decision over No. 4/4 Denver in the U.S. Hall of Fame Game
• Registered an assist just two minutes into the contest as part of a multiple-point night
• The Ottawa draft pick has seven points in his last six games
• First freshman Gopher to receive a Star Award since Oliver Moore on Jan. 30, 2024
• Last Gopher to earn a Star Award: Luca Di Pasquo (Second Star, Nov. 11, 2025)

Third Star
Michael Hage, Michigan
So. – F – Mississauga, Ont. – Chicago (USHL)
2024 NHL Draft: 1st Rd, 21st overall, Montreal

• National co-leader in scoring over the weekend with six points in Michigan’s sweep of Harvard in Boston
• Compiled a goal and five assists, including the primary assist on Saturday’s overtime winner
• Recorded back-to-back multiple-point performances
• Is one of four Wolverines honored with a Star Award this season
• Collects his third career Big Ten weekly award (1-first, 1-second, 1-third)