CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois kicker David Olano is the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. It is Olano's second consecutive week winning the award after kicking the game-winner against USC one week prior.Â
Olano was a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points to account for 19 points in #22 Illinois' 47-23 road win at Purdue. He tied the Illinois record for field goals made in a game with five, while hitting the most field goals in a single game by a Big Ten player this season.
Olano was the second Illini ever, and the first since 1982, to make five field goals in a road game, joining Mike Bass' five makes at Wisconsin.
Olano is the first Illini to win Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week awards in back-to-back weeks since kicker Neil Rackers in November 1999 against Iowa and Ohio State.Â
Illinois, which rose to #17 in the national rankings after the win, is back in action Saturday against #1 Ohio State. The game is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT on FOX at Gies Memorial Stadium.
