Following Penn State football’s 41-12 win over Auburn, two of its stars have been recognized by the Big Ten.

Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown has been named this week’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the conference on Monday. Additionally, true freshman running back Nick Singleton is the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second week in a row.

The duo helped Penn State improve to 3-0 on the season and move up to No. 14 in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll.

#B1GFootball 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸: Ji'Ayir Brown, @PennStateFball

Tallied 5 tackles (4 solo), a sack, a forced fumble and an interception to help Penn State defeat Auburn 41-12

https://t.co/nz76xaqIYW pic.twitter.com/ZnIM4ZxCIE

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 19, 2022

After deciding to return for the 2022 season, Brown was considered to be one of the key pieces to the defense’s success, and he has delivered so far. Brown had a great all-around game with five tackles (four solo), a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception. Brown recorded the strip sack in the third quarter, which turned out to be the first sack of his collegiate career.

This is Brown’s second Defensive Player of the Week award of his career, with the first coming last season during Penn State’s week 10 win over Maryland.

#B1GFootball 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸: Nicholas Singleton, @PennStateFball

Finished with 10 rushes for 124 yards and 2 TDs in PSU’s 41-12 win at Auburn, becoming the first true freshman RB with back-to-back 100-yard games since 2019

https://t.co/nz76xargOu pic.twitter.com/ZygT9kBGg6

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 19, 2022

For the second week in a row, Nick Singleton put on a show. A dominant ground game led to Singleton earning the honor for the second straight week.

Singleton ran for 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, becoming the first Penn State true freshman running back with back-to-back 100-yard games since Noah Cain in 2019.

After struggling to have a consistent running game since 2019, Singleton and fellow true freshman Kaytron Allen have brought the run game back to the offense.

Brown and Singleton will attempt to help Penn State improve to 4-0 as the Nittany Lions return to Beaver Stadium to take on Central Michigan at noon on Saturday, September 24.