Iowa Football: Ihmir Smith-Marsette named B1G Player of the Week

Ihmir Smith-Marsette was named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week after a stellar performance for the Iowa football team.

After posting his best performance of the 2020 season, Iowa Hawkeyes‘ receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette has been named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week.

Smith-Marsette caught seven passes for a career-high 140 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Iowa football’s 28-7 win over the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday. He finished with 167 all-purpose yards.

How good was Smith-Marsette this past weekend? His 140 receiving yards were the most by an Iowa receiver since Nov. 19, 2011, when Marvin McNutt compiled 151 yards against Purdue.

Unfortunately, Smith-Marsette’s MVP performance cost him his ankle during a touchdown celebration. After his second score of the game, the speedy wideout attempted a front flip in the end zone and landed awkwardly. He was seen in a walking boot on the sidelines in the fourth quarter. He said after the game the boot was just “precautionary”.

After Saturday’s game, Smith-Marsette now has 3,415 yards all-purpose yards for his career, putting him at 10th all-time in Iowa football history.

Smith-Marsette is the first Hawkeye player to win the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week award since quarterback Nate Stanley won on Oct. 15, 2018. It’s Smith-Marsette’s first time winning the award.

The Hawkeyes had two previous Player of the Week winners earlier this season. Defensive end Zach VanValkenburg was named Defensive Player of the Week after his three-sack performance against the Minnesota Gophers. Receiver Charlie Jones won the Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 54 yards for a touchdown against Michigan State.

Iowa football will face Michigan on Saturday, Dec. 19, as part of the Big Ten’s Champions Week. The Hawkeyes are currently a double-digit favorite.