NOTE: CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a voting member of the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards
Each week during the 2020 season the Maxwell Football Club recognizes outstanding individual performances with two weekly awards. The Maxwell Award Player of the Week will honor overall performance on offense, defense or special teams, and the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week will honor outstanding defensive play. Players selected do not have to be represented on the Maxwell or Bednarik Award watch lists.
Jaret Patterson – RB – Buffalo
Patterson did in an afternoon what most backs are fortunate to do in a month of action. In the greatest individual performance in school history, the big-play Bull erupted for 409 rushing yards and an NCAA record-tying eight touchdowns earning himself Maxwell Award Player of the Week honors. Patterson joined Texas’ Ricky Williams as the only players to rush for 300 yards in back-to-back games, as Buffalo blasted Kent State in a battle of unbeatens, 70-41.
Zion Tupuola-Fetui – OLB – Washington
There’s an emerging superstar alert in Seattle. Tupuola-Fetui has been a force through three games for first-year head coach Jimmy Lake. The sophomore leads the Pac-12 in sacks and tackles for loss, and he stepped up in a huge way after Washington spotted Utah a 21-0 lead Saturday night. Tupuola-Fetui had three sacks, forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery, as the Huskies pitched a second-half shutout and rallied for a thrilling 24-21 win. His outstanding defensive effort earned him recognition as the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week..