University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Baranowski, Drzewiecki Claim Weekly Big Ten Honors
9/28/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota claimed half of the Big Ten's weekly honors as linebacker Maverick Baranowski was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week, while kicker Luke Drzewiecki was recognized as the Special Teams Player of the Week.
Both players, who are taking home weekly Big Ten honors for the first time in their respective careers, were instrumental in Minnesota's 27-24 win at RV/23 Washington Saturday night.
Baranowski tied for the team lead with seven tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss, which were a season high. He also had 1.0 sacks, which tied a personal best, and recorded his first career interception, which set up the Gophers' first touchdown against the Huskies.
Saturday's performance marked the 15th straight game that Baranowski recorded six or more tackles, while his interception was the first by a Gopher linebacker since Cody Lindenberg at UCLA in 2024.
Baranowski leads Minnesota in tackles (28) and tackles for loss (3.0) this season, and he's tied for the team lead in interceptions (1) and quarterback hurries (2). He's also got 1.0 sacks.
Drzewiecki made both of his field goal attempts, which accounted for all six of Minnesota's points in the second half. He also made all three of his extra points. Drzewiecki first connected from 33 yards out with less than a minute to go in the third quarter, putting the Gopher lead at 24-10. He then made a career-long 51-yarder midway through the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in the final score.
The 51-yard field goal was the longest by a Gopher since Dragan Kesich made one from the same distance at Rutgers in 2024. Drzewiecki has made 21 straight field goals dating to his time at New Mexico, while Saturday marked his 13th straight game with a made field goal and fourth in a row with two or more made.
Drzewiecki, who was a three-time Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for the Lobos, is 6-of-6 on field goals this year, including 4-of-4 from 40+ yards. He's also 9-of-9 on extra points for a team-high 27 points.
Baranowski is the first Gopher to win Defensive Player of the Week honors since John Nestor in the final week of the 2025 season, and he's the first linebacker to do so since current position coach Mariano Sori-Marin did so on Dec. 14, 2020.
Drzewiecki is the second Gopher to win Special Teams Player of the Week in 2026 after Javon Tracy did so after the season's opening week. The last Minnesota kicker to take the honor was Kesich on Nov. 4, 2024.
The last time Minnesota won Defensive and Special Team Players of the Week in the same week was Oct. 23, 2023, when Tyler Nubin and Kesich claimed honors.
Minnesota is back in action Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium against Michigan. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on FOX following the first ever broadcast of Big Noon Kickoff from Minneapolis.
Both players, who are taking home weekly Big Ten honors for the first time in their respective careers, were instrumental in Minnesota's 27-24 win at RV/23 Washington Saturday night.
Baranowski tied for the team lead with seven tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss, which were a season high. He also had 1.0 sacks, which tied a personal best, and recorded his first career interception, which set up the Gophers' first touchdown against the Huskies.
Saturday's performance marked the 15th straight game that Baranowski recorded six or more tackles, while his interception was the first by a Gopher linebacker since Cody Lindenberg at UCLA in 2024.
Baranowski leads Minnesota in tackles (28) and tackles for loss (3.0) this season, and he's tied for the team lead in interceptions (1) and quarterback hurries (2). He's also got 1.0 sacks.
Drzewiecki made both of his field goal attempts, which accounted for all six of Minnesota's points in the second half. He also made all three of his extra points. Drzewiecki first connected from 33 yards out with less than a minute to go in the third quarter, putting the Gopher lead at 24-10. He then made a career-long 51-yarder midway through the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in the final score.
The 51-yard field goal was the longest by a Gopher since Dragan Kesich made one from the same distance at Rutgers in 2024. Drzewiecki has made 21 straight field goals dating to his time at New Mexico, while Saturday marked his 13th straight game with a made field goal and fourth in a row with two or more made.
Drzewiecki, who was a three-time Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for the Lobos, is 6-of-6 on field goals this year, including 4-of-4 from 40+ yards. He's also 9-of-9 on extra points for a team-high 27 points.
Baranowski is the first Gopher to win Defensive Player of the Week honors since John Nestor in the final week of the 2025 season, and he's the first linebacker to do so since current position coach Mariano Sori-Marin did so on Dec. 14, 2020.
Drzewiecki is the second Gopher to win Special Teams Player of the Week in 2026 after Javon Tracy did so after the season's opening week. The last Minnesota kicker to take the honor was Kesich on Nov. 4, 2024.
The last time Minnesota won Defensive and Special Team Players of the Week in the same week was Oct. 23, 2023, when Tyler Nubin and Kesich claimed honors.
Minnesota is back in action Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium against Michigan. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on FOX following the first ever broadcast of Big Noon Kickoff from Minneapolis.
Players Mentioned
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