After directing the largest comeback in Iowa football history against Pittsburgh on Sept. 17, quarterback James Vandenberg has earned numerous honors, including Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

In addition to the conference honor, the junior was named one of eight Manning Award Stars of the Week and was also nominated for Intersport’s Quarterback Performance of the Year award. Finally, he was named an honorable-mention recipient of the Davey O’Brien Quarterback of the Week.

The Keokuk, Iowa, native was 31-of-48 for 399 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were new career-best marks. He completed 17 of his final 20 passes, and his 399 yards are tied for the seven-most ever in a single game by an Iowa quarterback.

The Big Ten honor is the first of Vandenberg’s career, and he is the first Iowa player to be named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week since Ricky Stanzi after the game against Michigan on Oct. 16, 2010.

Vandenberg was one of eight different quarterbacks named as Manning Award Stars of the Week. Fans can visit the Allstate Sugar Bowl Facebook page to vote for this week’s winner, who will be announced as the Manning Award Player of the Week. Voting ends at 9 a.m. (CDT) Thursday.

The Intersport Quarterback Performance of the Year award includes a four-month competition in which fans can determine which performances during the 2011 season stood out the most. Fans can vote on the All-Star Football Challenge Facebook page and each week’s top vote-getter will proceed to the finals Jan. 19-25.

The O’Brien weekly award is voted on by fans and given out during the first eight weeks of the season. The recipient of the official Davey O’Brien Award, given to the best quarterback in the country, will be announced in December.

— by Jordan Garretson