Minnesota fifth-year kicker Luke Drzewiecki capped off his weekend heroics by being named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
Drzewiecki went 2-for-2 on field goals, making his first from 31 yards and then a walk-off 46-yarder, as Minnesota beat No. 15 Iowa 13-10 Saturday to claim the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for the first time since 2023 and second time in 12 years.
His first make came in the first quarter after a Minnesota blocked punt set up a short field, staking the Gophers to a 3-0 lead. His second make came from 46 yards as time expired in regulation, marking the first walk-off field goal of his collegiate career and the first for a Gopher since the 2023 season opener against Nebraska, when Dragan Kesich connected from 47 yards as time expired.
Drzewiecki has made 23 straight field goals dating to last season, the longest active streak in the nation (next closest is 19). He’s made all 12 of his attempts this year, which is third in the country for most makes without a miss. The streak of 12 straight makes for the Gophers is tied for the fourth longest in program history and is four off the school record of 16 set by Dan Nystrom in 2002.
Drzewiecki has made a field goal in 16 straight games and two field goals in seven straight contests.
Luke Drzewiecki
Included in his performance this season, Drzewiecki is 6-of-6 from 40 yards or longer, including a career best of 51 yards at Washington. He’s also 13-of-13 on extra points for a team-high 49 points.
It’s the second honor of the season for Drzewiecki from the Big Ten, as he was also named Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 28 after making a pair of field goals in a 27-24 win at Washington.
His two honors this season are tied for the most in one year in team history, along with kickers Kesich (2023) and Emmit Carpenter (2016), and punter Peter Mortell (2013). Drzewiecki is also now tied for fourth-most such honors in a career.
(info and photos courtesy of Gopher Sports)
