Minnesota Golden Gophers player Javon Tracy receives Big Ten player honors

Minnesota Golden Gophers senior Javon Tracy earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors following his performance against the Eastern Illinois Panthers on September 3, 2026. Tracy returned two punts for touchdowns during the Gophers' 59-7 win at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. This appearance marked the first time in his career that he returned punts in a game. By achieving the two-touchdown feat, Tracy became the fourth player in Big Ten history to record two punt return touchdowns in a single contest. The performance contributed to a significant impact from the Minnesota special teams unit, which had previously struggled with consistency.

• 2:00 AMYahoo Sports — Javon Tracy is the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week