:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61122473/usa_today_11173511.0.jpg)
With all due respect to the folks at the Big Ten office in Chicago, while quarterback Dwayne Haskins might be the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week, running back Mike Weber has earned the Land-Grant Holy Land Week 1 Offensive MVP Award.
In all fairness, Haskins is totally deserving, and had the B1G not given the honor to him, I would have been very tempted to break my own no-tie rule and split it for the season opener. However, since the conference took Haskins, I feel comfortable bestowing the far more prestigious, first-ever LGHL offensive honor on Weber, as well as the defensive prize to Nick Bosa.
Week 1 Offensive MVP: Mike Weber
On Saturday, junior running back Mike Weber went for a career-high 186 yards on 20 careers and 3 touchdowns. His total yards put him at sixth nationally, and his rushing TDs tied him for second. He also leads the conference in both categories.
Weber averaged 9.3 yards per carry, the fourth highest in the country for anyone with more than 15 carries. For much of the off-season, it was anticipated that Weber would be the 1A running back option alongside (but just ever so slightly behind) J.K. Dobbins.
One thing that we learned about the running back rotation against Oregon State is that the coaching staff—at least without Urban Meyer on the sideline—won’t be afraid to go with the hot hand, and on Saturday, Weber was the hot hand.
Week 1 Defensive MVP: Nick Bosa
Nick Bosa came to Ohio State with incredibly high expectations to live up to following right on the heels of his older brother Joey. However, Nick has more than lived up to the hype, and is in the discussion to be the top-overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
On Saturday, Joey’s “little” brother added to his resume, even though he didn’t play long enough to wrack up a ton of tackles. Nick had a pair of sacks and two fumble recoveries, including one that earned him his first career touchdown.
While there was a lot to be desired from the Buckeye defense against the Beavers, the defensive line, anchored by Bosa, looked like it was already in mid-season form.