Here are the Big East players of the week, as announced by the league office Monday.
Offense: Gary Nova, QB, Rutgers. Nova led Rutgers to its eighth consecutive win and helped the Scarlet Knights improve to 4-0 in Big East play with four second-half touchdown passes in a 35-10 win at Temple. Trailing 10-0 at halftime, Nova led a Scarlet Knight offense that scored 35 unanswered points to close the game. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 232 yards, helping Rutgers to just its third 7-0 start in program history and its second 4-0 start in Big East play.
Defense: Lorenzo Mauldin, DE, Louisville. Mauldin helped Louisville beat USF 27-25 to improve to 2-0 in Big East play for just the second time. Mauldin had six tackles, including two sacks and three tackles for loss, to go with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. His strip sack and fumble recovery came late in the first half and allowed Louisville to take a 14-3 lead into halftime.
Special teams: Ross Krautman, K, Syracuse. Krautman scored 16 points -- the most by a Big East kicker in a game this season -- to help Syracuse to a 40-10 win against Connecticut. Krautman hit field goals of 22, 33, 42 and 47 yards and was 4-for-4 on PATs. He finished the game with 203 career points, tying Don McAulay for eighth on Syracuse’s career chart.
Weekly Honor Roll
Greg Blair, LB, Cincinnati. Had 15 tackles with one tackle for loss in a 29-23 loss at Toledo. Led a defense that did not allow an offensive touchdown.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville. Completed 21 of 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-25 win against USF. Completed his first 11 passes of the game.
Preston Brown, LB, Louisville. Had a career-high 17 tackles with one pass breakup in a 27-25 win against USF.
Jamil Merrell, DT, Rutgers. Had three tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack with a forced fumble in a 35-10 win at Temple.
Shamarko Thomas, S, Syracuse. Had four tackles, a forced fumble and a 27-yard interception return in a 40-10 win against Connecticut.
