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Illinois true-freshman running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (Pearl-Cohn HS, Antioch, Tenn.) was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday after helping the Fighting Illini to a 48-14 road win at Purdue on Saturday. 

Vaughn ran for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries (11.3 ypc) and added one reception for 23 yards against the Boilers, as the Illini piled up 595 total yards and 382 rushing yards in the victory. The 180-yard outburst was the most by an Illini true freshman since Rocky Harvey's 215 yards vs. Middle Tennessee in 1998 and Vaughn's 78-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the longest run by an Illini since Jason Ford's 79-yard TD run against Michigan in 2009. 

Vaughn leads all FBS true-freshman in carries (139) and is fourth in rushing yards (665). He leads Illinois with six touchdowns this season and is within striking distance of Nathan Scheelhaase's Illinois freshman rushing record of 868 yards, set in 2010.

Vaughn is the first Illini weekly B1G honoree this season and the first to earn Freshman of the Week honors since wide receiver Mike Dudek on Sept. 8, 2014. 

The Fighting Illini (5-4 overall, 2-3 B1G) have one home game remaining this season, this Saturday against No. 2 Ohio State (11 am on ABC). The Illini also host Northwestern at Soldier Field for the Windy City Series on Nov. 28. Tickets are on sale now for both the Ohio State game and the Northwestern game. 

Big Ten Players of the Week for games of Nov. 7
OFFENSE: Nebraska QB Tommy Armstrong Jr.
DEFENSE: Ohio State S Vonn Bell
SPECIAL TEAMS: Rutgers WR Janarion Grant
FRESHMAN: Illinois RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn