On Monday there was some good news to spread around Evanston
after Venric Mark was named the Big Ten Special Teams and Freshman Player of
the Week.
Mark had 273 kickoff return yards against Wisconsin on Saturday -- including a 94-yard return for a touchdown -- for an NU single-game record, and he also finished 10 yards short of the Big Ten's single-game record. Mark's touchdown was NU's first kickoff return for a touchdown since Stephen Simmons ran 99 yards against Ohio State in 2007.
Mark also finished with 281 all-purpose yards, breaking the team's freshman record of 253 set by Tyrell Sutton against Wisconsin in 2005.
The Houston native is NU's first Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week since kicker Stefan Demos picked up the honor three times last year. He shares both awards with Indiana kicker Mitch Ewald.