Nebraska's Nate Gerry, De'Mornay Pierson-El Earn Big Ten Honors

Nate Gerry was named as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after his exceptional performance against Iowa on Friday. Gerry had a career-high 15 tackles, 10 solo, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception as Nebraska knocked off Iowa in overtime 37-34. Gerry's 15 tackles topped all defenders.

It is Gerry's first player of the week award.

De'Mornay Pierson-El earned co-special teams player of the week for being incredibly dazzling, chalking up 134 yards in punt return yardage, including an 80-yard return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to put Nebraska in a position for the comeback win.

This is the second such honor for De'Morney Pierson-El this season. He currently leads the nation in punt return yardage with 589 total yards and is third in average with 17.85 yards per return.

Below is the full list of Big Ten Honorees for this week:

Offensive Player of the Week

Gary Nova, Rutgers

Sr., QB, Elmwood Park, N.J./Don Bosco Prep

• Completed 28-of-42 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns to lead Rutgers to a comeback win at Maryland

• Recorded a career-high 28 completions, moving into second in Scarlet Knights' history with 680 career completions

• Produced his second game of 300 or more passing yards this season and seventh of his career

• Earns the second Offensive Player of the Week award of his career

• Last Rutgers Offensive Player of the Week: Gary Nova (Oct. 6, 2014)

Defensive Player of the Week

Nate Gerry, Nebraska

So., S, Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington

• Led Nebraska with a career-high 15 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and added 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception in an overtime victory at Iowa

• His first-quarter interception marked his fifth pick in Big Ten play this season

• Guided a Nebraska defense that forced punts on five consecutive Iowa possessions to aid in the Huskers' second-half comeback

• Claims his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor

• Last Nebraska Defensive Player of the Week: Randy Gregory (Nov. 11, 2013)

Co-Special Teams Players of the Week

R.J. Shelton, Michigan State

So., WR, Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam

• Returned three kickoffs for a career-high 135 yards and one touchdown in Michigan State's win at Penn State

• Recorded his first career kickoff return for a touchdown, returning the opening kickoff for 90 yards and the Spartans' first score

• It was the first time since 2009 that an MSU player returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and only the second time in MSU history a Spartan returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown

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

• Last Michigan State Special Teams Player of the Week: Mike Sadler (Oct. 14, 2013)

De'Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska

Fr., WR, Alexandria, Va./West Potomac

• Recorded three punt returns for 134 yards and one touchdown in Nebraska's comeback win at Iowa

• Produced an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Nebraska its first lead of the game

• His 134 punt return yards in the game are the fourth-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season, and his 589 punt return yards this season leads the nation

• Earns his second career Special Teams Player of the Week honor

• Last Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Week: De'Mornay Pierson-El (Sept. 15, 2014)

Freshman of the Week

J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

Fr., QB, Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider

• Guided Ohio State to a win over Michigan, compiling 265 yards of total offense with three touchdowns

• Completed 13-of-21 passes for 176 yards and one score and added 89 yards rushing and two touchdowns

• Finished the season with 45 touchdowns accounted for, breaking the Big Ten record of 42 set by Purdue's Drew Brees in 1998

• Set a Big Ten single-season record with his seventh Freshman of the Week award

• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Jalin Marshall (Nov. 24, 2014)