Through the first half of the season, the Iowa football team was typically earning two to three spots on Pro Football Focus’s Big Ten team of the week. After a 26-20 victory over Purdue, however, the Hawks earned a season-high five spots, which is just more evidence that maybe the Hawks are closer than we think to being the elite team we expected at the beginning of the season.
Despite giving up a season-high 20 points to an injury-riddled Purdue Boilermaker team, Phil Parker’s defense claimed three spots, one at each level.
Earning Big Ten defensive team of the week honors was defensive lineman Daviyon Nixon, who continues to have a superb, possibly breakout, season, linebacker Djimon Colbert, and defensive back Geno Stone, whos play deserves more national recognition.