Duncan, Johnson earn Big Ten honors

Hawkeyes took the Big Ten honors by storm after beating Iowa State on Sept. 14.

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Shivansh Ahuja

Iowa kicker Keith Duncan makes a practice kick during a football game between Iowa and Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Saturday, September 14, 2019.

Pete Ruden, Pregame Editor

Iowa kicker Keith Duncan and cornerback D.J. Johnson earned recognition from the Big Ten after stellar performances in the Hawkeyes’ 18-17 win over Iowa State.

Duncan earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors, while Johnson picked up co-Freshman of the Week along with Northwestern’s Drake Anderson.

Duncan hit four field goals against the Cyclones — one in each quarter — to score 12 of Iowa’s 18 points. His last field goal from 39 yards out gave the Hawkeyes a 1-point advantage with 2:51 remaining.

The Weddington, North Carolina, native also made field goals from 25, 40, and 42 yards.

Duncan, who is seeing his first action since 2016, has converted 8-of-8 field goals and 8-of-8 PATs this season.

Johnson, a redshirt freshman from Indianapolis, Indiana, made his first start against the Cyclones, posting 8 tackles — including 6 solo stops — and 2 pass breakups.

Johnson saw action in three games in 2018 but ended up using the year to redshirt.

The honor marks Johnson’s first, while Duncan was previously recognized after nailing a 33-yard game-winning kick to down Michigan in 2016.