Gilbert And Saunders Are Big 12 Players Of The Week

Bryce Petty (Baylor), James Sims (Kansas), Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma State), Jack Cantele (K-State) and Jalen Saunders (Oklahoma) were named Big 12 Football Players of the Week by a panel of media that cover the Conference. Gilbert (defense) was honored for the second consecutive week and fourth time in his career. Saunders (co-special teams) was recognized for the second time in his career while Petty (co-offense), Sims (co-offense) and Cantele (co-special teams) picked up their first weekly award.

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Justin Gilbert - Oklahoma State - CB

Justin Gilbert intercepted two passes and returned one 43 yards for a touchdown to help Oklahoma State to a 38-13 win over Texas. His interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter marked his second interception return for a score of the season. He also had a pick-six at Iowa State. It was the eighth non-offensive touchdown of his career.

Gilbert has six interceptions this season, a mark that leads the Big 12 and ranks fourth nationally. His 11 career interceptions rank him ninth among all active players and his 25 career pass break-ups are the most for any Cowboy.

This is the second time in as many weeks that Gilbert has been honored by the Big 12, as he was the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Kansas on Nov. 8.

Big 12 Special Teams Co-Player of the Week

Jalen Saunders - Oklahoma - PR

With the Sooners trailing 10-3 against Iowa State, Jalen Saunders registered a 91-yard punt return touchdown to spark Oklahoma to 45 unanswered points and a 48-10 win. Saunders now has two career punt return TDs for OU.

The punt return tied as the third-longest in OU history. Saunders currently ranks second in the Big 12 in punt return average (13.5).

It is the second Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honor for Saunders. In last year's home finale against Oklahoma State, he produced an 81-yard punt return TD to help spark the Sooners in a 51-48 overtime victory.

In addition to Saunders on special teams, the Sooners have also boasted a Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (QB Blake Bell – Tulsa) and a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (S Gabe Lynn – West Virginia).

2013 Cowboy and Sooner Big 12 Players of the Week

Sept. 2 - Caleb Lavey, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Sept. 9 - J.W. Walsh, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week

Sept. 9 - Gabe Lynn, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Sept. 16 - Blake Bell, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week

Sept. 16 - Josh Stewart, Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week

Oct. 7 - Shaun Lewis, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Oct. 7 - Ben Grogan, Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week

Oct. 21 - Josh Stewart, Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week

Oct. 28 – Desmond Roland, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week

Nov. 4 – Clint Chelf, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week

Nov. 11 – Justin Gilbert, Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week

Nov. 18 – Justin Gilbert, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

Nov. 18 – Jalen Saunders, Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week