Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week today after his walk-off, game-winning interception in double overtime at Fresno State on Saturday night.
This is the third time that the conference has honored the dynamic Winfield, as he was named Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 10, 2018) and Special Teams player of the Week (Sept. 3, 2018) last season.
Winfield also notched four solo tackles and had one sack as Minnesota posted a fourth-quarter rally to beat the Bulldogs.
This is the second straight year that Winfield stunned Fresno State with an interception in the end zone to help secure a Minnesota win. Last year, he made an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter on a trick play to preserve a Minnesota 21-14 win.
Winfield is the first Gopher to be recognized three times by the Big Ten since former Gopher kicker Emmit Carpenter was named Special Teams Player of the Week three times (once in 2018 and twice in 2016).