Adam Weber named Big Ten Player of the Week

Minnesota junior quarterback Adam Weber completed just 20 of 45 passes for 213 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions in road losses to Ohio State and Penn State and plenty of fans were calling for MarQueis Gray. However, Weber quieted the critics as he was named Big Ten Player of the Week after completing 19 of 31 passes for 416 yards and five touchdowns in 42-34 win Saturday night.

Adam Weber became Minnesota’s career-passing yardage record-holder in the game. He was also the first Minnesota quarterback to surpass 400 passing yards in more than a decade, throwing for a career-best 416 yards and matching a career high with five touchdown passes in a victory over Michigan State.

Despite playing without injured All-Big Ten receiver Eric Decker, Weber completed 19 of 31 passes (61.3 percent) to make him the Gophers’ first 400-yard passer since Cory Sauter compiled 404 yards against the Spartans in 1995. Weber’s five touchdowns equaled his career best set in a double-overtime game at Northwestern in 2007. The junior quarterback connected on a 62-yard touchdown pass on the game’s first offensive play before tossing a 37-yard scoring strike on his third pass to give the hosts an early 14-0 advantage. He added a third touchdown pass to put Minnesota up 21-10 at the half.

After the Spartans’ claimed the lead, 31-28, at the end of the third quarter, Weber opened the final stanza by driving the Gophers 73 yards on six plays, capped by his fourth touchdown pass to put the hosts back ahead, 35-31. The Spartans responded with a field goal before Weber tossed his fifth touchdown. On third-and-17, the Minnesota native connected with his tight end who hit the ground, popping the ball into the air before Duane Bennett grabbed it in midair and sprinted for a score and a 42-34 lead.

Weber earns his third career weekly accolade and has been honored in each of his first three seasons, including Sept. 10, 2007 and Sept. 8, 2008. Weber’s award last season was the last time a Gopher won the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award.