Blog Ten Dean’s List – Week 10

Every Monday – and sometimes Tuesday – during the Big Ten season Blog Ten will take a look at the stars of the previous week’s games in it’s Dean’s List.

Sorry I didn’t get this up yesterday but I had a busy afternoon on Monday and just didn’t have much time to spend blogging.  Again, if not having the Dean’s List up on Monday made your day worse than it usually is, I apologize.  If you’re willing to forgive me then we can begin to pick up the pieces and put our life back together.

Onto the List.

Joey Elliott – QB – Purdue – The Boilermakers were finally able to put an end to their 12-game road losing streak on Saturday after coming back from a 14-point halftime deficit against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.  The first time Purdue has won in the Big House since 1966. Their quarterback was a big reason why as Elliott completed 72% of his passes and threw for a career-high 367 yards and three touchdowns (one rushing).  The last Purdue quarterback to win a game in Ann Arbor?  Bob Griese.  Maybe Elliott and Bob went out for tacos after the game to celebrate.

Cameron Heyward – DE – Ohio State - The son of the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward — an underrated running back in Tecmo Super Bowl — made his father proud during the Buckeyes’ win over Penn State this weekend.  He set career highs in tackles with eleven and also in sacks with two, all the while finishing with three tackles for a loss.  Together with his teammates Heyward helped contain one of the strongest offenses in the Big Ten to seven points.

Clay Nurse – DE – Illinois - The Illini were able to pull off their second straight victory this weekend on the road against Minnesota, and Clay Nurse had an awful lot to do with it.  He sacked the Gophers’ Adam Weber four times, finishing just a sack shy of tying the Illinois school record of five sacks in a game by Simeon Rice back in 1994.  What’s more amazing than a defensive player from Illinois making the Dean’s List?  How about two?

Terry Hawthorne – CB – Illinois - It wasn’t going to be easy for Illinois to replace Vontae Davis, but it seems they may have found the kid to do just that.  After Hawthorne helped turn the tide of Illinois’ victory over Michigan last week when he tackled Roy Roundtree at the one-yard line, this week he intercepted an Adam Weber pass at the end of the first quarter and took it back for a touchdown.  It was a huge play early in the game, and one that gave Illinois the momentum to hold on to their early lead.

Montee Ball – RB – Wisconsin - Ball’s teammate John Clay has been on the list so often this year that I’m considering naming it the John Clay Memorial Dean’s List next season, but this week I’ll give Clay’s backup some love.  After Clay left the Badgers game with a concussion — not before picking up 134 yards and a touchdown of course — Ball took over and rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns to help hold off the Hoosiers.

Ashton Leggett – RB – Michigan State - Ashton Leggett had one carry on the season going into the Spartans game against Western Michigan on Saturday, and that carry came in the first game of the season against Montana State.  So how did he respond after sitting on the sidelines watching the last eight games when given a chance?  Just a ho-hum 14 carry, 110 yards and four touchdowns.  I think he’ll be getting more carries in the Spartans last two games.

Ray Small – WR – Ohio State - Small didn’t have a huge day catching the ball for the Buckeyes, but his value on special teams was through the roof.  Seven returns for 130 yards and two of over 40 yards that both set up touchdowns for the Buckeyes.  The Penn State defense is incredibly tough, so anytime you can get a short field against them you help yourself out a lot.  Small did just that for Ohio State.