Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week the conference office announced on Monday. Hansen led Illinois to a 24-23 upset over No. 6 Wisconsin on Saturday with two forced fumbles, 11 tackles, and one sack in one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history.
Hansen's first forced fumble came on a strip sack of Wisconsin QB Jack Coan, resulting in only the second turnover of the season for Coan. Later, Hansen punched out the ball from Wisconsin All-American and Doak Walker Award winner Jonathan Taylor at the Illinois 25-yard line with 7:12 remaining to set up an Illini touchdown drive to cut Wisconsin's lead to 23-21.
Hansen leads the nation with seven forced fumbles, the second-most in a single season in Illinois history. He is the first Big Ten player to force seven fumbles in one season since Whitney Mercilus set the Illinois record of nine in 2011.
It is the second time Hansen has earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors (Sept. 3, 2018).
