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(NOTE: In addition to numerous other awards, CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a season-end voter for these awards in this article: Ray Guy, Bednarik, Maxwell, Lou Groza, Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski)
In no particular order, here are the Players of the Week, as announced by some of college football's major award recipients.
The Maxwell Football Club announces that West Virginia running back Jahiem White has been named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week after a stellar performance against Cincinnati. In the 42-21 rout, White rushed for 204 yards on 21 carries and a rushing touchdown, while adding one reception for 75 yards and a touchdown. He is the first Mountaineer running back to eclipse 200 yards rushing in a game since Justin Crawford had 209 in 2016. His first touchdown was a scoring grab from his own 25, while he added a 4 yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. The Mountaineers now travel to Waco to take on the Baylor Bears in their regular season finale.
Weekly Winners
Week 12: Jahiem White, RB, West Virginia
Week 11: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
Week 10: Eugene Wilson, WR, Florida
Week 9: Kevin Concepcion, WR, NC State
Week 8: Reuben Bain Jr., DE, TCU
Week 7: Josh Hoover, QB, TCU
Week 6: Noah Fifita, QB, Arizona
Week 5: Caleb Downs, DB, Alabama
Week 4: Rocco Becht, QB, Iowa State
Week 3: Jordan Castell, S, Florida
Week 2: Anthony Hill, Jr., LB, Texas
Week 1: Dylan Edwards, RB, Colorado
The Augusta Sports Council and the Ray Guy Award announced the semifinalists for Punter of the Year.
Semifinalists
Alec Bevelhimer (Miami, O.)
Alex Mastromanno, Florida State
Austin McNamara, Texas Tech
Jack Bouwmeester, Utah
Jack Browning, San Diego State
James Burnip, Alabama
James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
Matthew Hayball, Vanderbilt
Porter Wilson, Duke
Toyr Taylor, Iowa
Weekly Winners - No more Weekly Winners after Week 10
Week 10: Porter Wilson, Duke
Week 9: James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
Week 8: Tory Taylor, Iowa
Week 7: No announcement
Week 6: Austin McNamara, Texas Tech
Week 5: Oscar Chapman, Auburn
Week 4: Matt Hayball, Vanderbilt
Week 3: Tyler Perkins, Iowa State
Week 2: James Burnip, Alabama
Week 1: Ryan Rehkow, BYU
Semifinalists
Offensive tackle Joe Alt of Notre Dame
Guard Cooper Beebe of Kansas State
Offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State
Defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois
Center Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon,
Defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat of Texas and
G guard Zak Zinter of Michigan
Weekly Winners - No more Weekly Winners after Week 10
Week 10: Will Putnam, C, Clemson
Week 9: Leif, Foutanu, OL, Arizona State
Week 8: Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State
Week 7: Charles Turner III, C, LSU
Week 6: Walter Rouse, OL LT, Oklahoma
Week 5: Jeremy Flax, OL, Kentucky
Week 4: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Week 3: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Week 2: Anez Cooper, G, Miami (FL)
Week 1: Tanor Bortoloini, C, Wisconsin
Oregon QB Bo Nix has been named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week after a dominant performance against Arizona State this past weekend. The 6’2 217 senior completed 24-of-29 passes for 404 yards and six touchdowns. Nix currently leads the nation with a 78.1 completion percentage and is on pace to break the NCAA single-season record, as well as being the only FBS player this season with multiple six touchdown games. Nix would also become the first ever Duck with four career 400-yard passing games, with his 35 passing touchdowns placing him second in Oregon’s single-season history ranking.
The Ducks will be back at home to take on Oregon State this Friday, Nov. 24 at 5:30 p.m. PT.
The No. 15 Tigers look ahead to take on Georgia State at home next week.
Weekly Winners
Week 12: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Week 11: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Week 10: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Week 9: Ollie Gordon !!, RB, Oklahoma State
Week 8: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Week 7: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Week 6: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma
Week 5: Ray Davis, RB, Kentcuky
Week 4: Cameron Ward, QB, Washington State
Week 3: Michael Penix, Jr., QB, Washington
Week 2: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Week 1: Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
Washington cornerback Jabbar Muhammad has been named the Bednarik Player of The Week after the Huskies' win over No. 10 Oregon State this past weekend. The junior from Desoto, Texas would have a stellar day recording two interceptions, four pass break-ups, and a fumble recovery. Additionally, Muhammad currently sits at 9th in the nation for passes defended.
The Huskies are back at home this weekend to take on Washington State this Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1:00 p.m. PT.
Weekly Winners
Week 12: Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Washington
Week 11: Jalen McLeod, EDGE, Auburn
Week 10: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Week 9: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Week 8: Nathaniel Wilson, LB, Mississippi State
Week 7: Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas
Week 5: Howard Cross III, DL, Notre Dame
Week 4: Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama
Week 3: Daquan Evans, DB, USF
Week 2: Jaden Hicks, DB, Washington State
Week 1: Kaimon Rucker, LB, North Carolina
College football’s top kicking award is presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. Each week, they announce the Lou Groza Award "Stars of the Week".
Alex Hale of Oklahoma State kicked multiple field goals for the eighth time this season, adding three more in the 43-30 victory over Houston. The senior from Point Frederick, New South Wales, Australia leads all FBS kickers with 24 field goals on the season. This week he connected from 46, 44 and 21 yards out to move into third place in the school record books for field goals in a season. He added for PATs for a 13-point performance that gives him a team-leading 106 points on the season.
Joshua Karty of Stanford made a pair of big kicks in the 27-15 loss to Cal. Following up on last season when his 61-yard boot became the longest in the history of the rivalry game, the senior from Burlington, N.C. kicked field goals from 53 and 50 yards out this season. He added a 44 yarder for a 9-point, 3-for-3 performance. He stands as the only FBS kicker with 10 field goals from at least 40 yards out, trying to lead the nation in that stat for the second straight year following his Groza Award finalist campaign last season.
Graham Nicholson of Miami (Ohio) stayed perfect in Miami University’s 23-10 win over Buffalo. The junior from Cincinnati, Ohio made his attempts from 37, 25 and 23 yards out to improve to 22-for-22 on field goals this season. That puts him ahead of 2012 Groza winner Cairo Santos’ number of 21, which currently stands as the most field goals in a perfect season in FBS history. With three more kicks without a miss, Nicholson would also match the FBS record for the most consecutive field goals at any point in a season.
Weekly Winners
Week 12: Alex Hale (Oklahoma State), Joshua Karty (Stanford), Graham Nicholson (Miami, O.)
Week 11: Tyler Loop (Arizona), Drew Stevens (Iowa), Alex McPherson (Auburn)
Week 10: Bert Auburn (Texas), Cam Little (Arkansas), Collin Rogers (SMU)
Week 9: Andres Borregales (Miami), John Love (Virginia Tech), Brandon Talton (Nevada)
Week 8: Isaiah Hankins (Baylor), Dragan Kasich (Minnesota), Jose Pizaono (UNLV)
Week 7: Alex Hale (Oklahoma State), Scott Taylor Renfore (Troy), Trey Smack (Florida)
Week 6: Alex Hale (Oklahoma State), Brock Travelstead (Louisville), Peyton Woodring (Georgia)
Week 5: John Hoyland (Wyoming), Will Reichard (Alabama), Drew Stevens (Iowa)
Week 4: Michael Lantz (Georgia Southern), Trey Smack (Florida), Dominic Zvada (Arkansas State)
Week 3: Harrison Mevis (Missouri), Jose Pizano (UNLV), Noah Rauschenberg (North Texas)
Week 2: Colton Boomer (UCF), Caden Davis (Ole Miss), Camden Lewis (Oregon)
Week 1: Josh Karty (Stanford), Andrew Stein (Southern Miss), Brock Travelstead (Louisville)
DALLAS (SMU) – The PwC SMU Athletic Forum is proud to announce the 10 semifinalists for the 2023 Doak Walker National Collegiate Running Back Award. Headed by four players from the Big 12 Conference and two Sun Belt Conference selections, the list of honored players includes one repeat semifinalist, Michigan's Blake Corum. In all, the 10 semifinalists represent six Division I FBS conferences.
Three finalists for the 2023 Doak Walker Award will be announced a week from today and the winner will be unveiled live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8. The formal presentation of the award will take place here on the SMU campus at the annual banquet scheduled for Feb. 16, 2024.
Here’s a thumbnail look at the semifinalists, five of whom were honored during the course of the season as the Doak Walker Award National Running Back of the Week:
Jonathon Brooks, Texas: The nation's eighth-leading rusher has 1,139 yards on only 187 carries, a 6.1 average per carry in just 10 games. Although sidelined now for the season by injury, Brooks has scored 10 rushing touchdowns and is fourth in the nation in total yards from scrimmage (142.5 per game).
Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech: Brooks is the nation's third-leading rusher with 1,348 yards on 249 carries and has surpassed the 100-yard mark in eight of his last nine games to go with nine rushing touchdowns on the season.
Marcus Carroll, Georgia State: The leading rusher in the Sun Belt Conference with 1,293 yards on 259 carries. He has scored 13 touchdowns on the ground and has seven 100-yard games; four of those have been for 150 or more yards, including a 208-yard performance vs. Georgia Southern.
Blake Corum, Michigan: The lone returning semifinalist leads the nation with 20 rushing touchdowns for the unbeaten Wolverines. He has seven multi-score games, including the last three and has 888 yards rushing on the season.
Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State: A three-time Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week this season, Gordon is tied for the national lead with 1,414 rushing yards to go with 15 touchdowns. Gordon has run up his numbers despite only having 19 carries in the season's first three games. Over the last eight games, he has 1,305 rushing yards and over 100 yards in all but one outing.
Omarion Hampton, North Carolina: Tied as the nation's leading rusher with 1,414 yards and 15 touchdowns, he's reeled off six straight 100-yard games and seven on the season. Hampton was the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week for his Sept. 9 performance vs. App State (26 carries, 234 yards and three touchdowns).
R.J. Harvey, UCF: With a string of five straight 100-yard games, Harvey has 1,160 yards rushing on 190 totes. With 8 rushing touchdowns in his last three games, he has 14 on the season.
Damien Martinez, Oregon State: After opening the season with three straight 100-yard games, Martinez is riding a current three game streak of 100-yard games and is the Pac-12's second-leading rusher with 1,147 yards on 181 carries. He has scored six touchdowns in his last two games.
Cody Schrader, Missouri: The SEC's leading rusher by more than 20 yards per game has 1,272 yards on 220 carries after earning the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honor a week ago. He has 12 rushing touchdowns and has scored in eight straight games.
Kimani Vidal, Troy: With 1,280 rushing yards in 238 carries, Vidal is the second-leading rusher in the Sun Belt Conference. He has two games of 245-plus yards rushing and has scored eight touchdowns
Weekly Winners
Week 11: Cody Schrader, Missouri
Week 10: Dillon Johnson, Washingnton
Week 9: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
Week 8: Nay-Quan Wright, South Florida
Week 7: Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
Week 6: Trey Benson, Florida State
Week 5: Ray Davis, Kentucky
Week 4: DJ Giddens, Kansas State
Week 3: Trevor Etienne, Florida
Week 2: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Week 1: Dylan Edwards, Colorado
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (FWAA) – Five finalists for the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy representing three different conferences plus Notre Dame, one of them from the top team in the current College Football Playoff rankings and one who has the sixth-most tackles in the FBS, were named Wednesday by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club as candidates for the award honoring the nation’s top defensive player.
Three members from the secondary, a linebacker and a defensive tackle compose the list. Three of the schools represented have had Bronko Nagurski Trophy winners in their past.
In alphabetical order, the finalists are Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, Georgia safety Malaki Starks, NotreDame safety Xavier Watts and N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy recipient will be chosen from these five finalists. The FWAA All-America Committee selects the defensive player of the year who is part of the 2023 FWAA All-America Team and presented with the trophy at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 4 in Charlotte, N.C. where TCU head coach Sonny Dykes will be the keynote speaker.
Here is more information on the five Nagurski Trophy 2023 finalists:
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa (#3, 6-1, 207, Jr., Odebolt, Iowa): DeJean is one of the nation’s top cornerbacks and one of Iowa’s most experienced players. He has 41 tackles on the season, two interceptions and five pass breakups. The ball is not thrown to his side of the field often. DeJean had 10 tackles against Iowa State, a rarity for a corner, marking his third career 10-plus tackle effort. Iowa’s defense currently is third nationally, giving up 12.3 points per game, and has allowed only one touchdown over its last four games; it’s fresh off its first Big Ten shutout since 2019 following a 22-0 home win over Rutgers last week.
Iowa has never had a Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner but has two recent finalists in defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon in 2020 and linebacker Josey Jewell from 2017. Linebacker Pat Angerer was also a finalist in 2009.
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois (#4, 6-2, 295, Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla.): A constant force in the middle of Illinois’ defense, Newton is the national leader in quarterback pressures among interior defensive linemen with 39 according to Pro Football Focus and leads all FBS defensive tackles in snaps played at 61.1 per game. He has two standout games with seven pressures against Wisconsin and six against then-No. 7 Penn State. Newton is sixth on Illinois’ season tackles chart with 42 and leads the Illini with 6.5 tackles for loss. He is also a special teams force with three blocked kicks this season, tied for the national lead.
Illinois has never had a Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner, but has had three previous finalists in defensive end Whitney Mercilus in 2011, linebacker Kevin Hardy in 1995 and linebacker Dana Howard in 1994.
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (#24, 6-1, 205, So., Jefferson, Ga.): An imposing safety and one of the top underclassmen in the country, Starks lists fifth on the team with 33 tackles, ties for second with five pass breakups and has two interceptions. He has led the Bulldogs in tackles in two games this year against UT-Martin and Kentucky. Starks had 10 tackles against Tennessee last year, a career high, and faces the Vols again this weekend. Georgia, the top team in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings, is on a school record 27-game winning streak that is third in SEC history.
Georgia is well represented in Bronko Nagurski Trophy history. A fellow Bulldog defensive back, cornerback Champ Bailey, is the lone winner from 1998. But the Bulldogs have now had a finalist in three consecutive seasons and in five of the last six seasons (safety Chris Smith in 2022, defensive tackle Jordan Davis in 2021; safety J.R. Reed in 2019; linebacker Roquan Smith in 2017) and now nine finalists all-time. Eight of their nine finalists now have been in-state recruits.
Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame (#0, 5-11, 204, Jr., Omaha, Neb.): A disrupter to opponents, Watts is the nation’s interceptions leader with seven, with five of them in the Irish’s last three games. He is the first Irish player to post multiple interceptions in consecutive games (vs. USC and Pitt) and the first FBS player to do it since 2020 – he was the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following both wins. The USC game was a career highlight for him; in addition to seven tackles, Watts intercepted reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams twice, forced a fumble and recovered another and returned it for a touchdown. His seven picks – half of the team’s 14 – have led directly to Notre Dame points in every occurrence totaling 41 points, or 11 percent of the Irish’s team scoring. He has 42 tackles, fourth at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2012. He is the Fighting Irish’s lone previous winner. Fellow linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was a finalist for the award in 2020, as was cornerback Shane Walton in 2002.
Payton Wilson, LB, N.C. State (#11, 6-4, 238, Gr., Hillsborough, N.C.): Nicknamed by his head coach as a “wrecking ball,” Wilson leads the ACC and is fifth nationally with 11.2 tackles per game and has led the team in tackles in eight of NCSU’s 10 games. Wilson is 13th nationally in solo tackles and has 49 more tackles than any other Wolfpack player at 112 total, the highest mark by a Wolfpack player since 2012. N.C. State leads the ACC in scoring defense in league play at 14.5 ppg. In its last eight games Wilson has led the Wolfpack defense to allow just 84.1 rushing yards per game. He was a four-time ACC Linebacker of the Week and has 20 double-figure tackle outputs for his career, including five in 2023.
N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2017. Linebacker Levar Fisher is the Wolfpack’s only other finalist from the 2000 season.
Weekly Winners - No more Weekly Winners after Week 10
Week 10: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Week 9: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
Week 8: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Week 7: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
Week 6: Devin Grant, S, Buffalo
Week 5: Caden Jenkins, CB, Baylor
Week 4: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Week 3: Carlton Johnson, DB, Fresno State
Week 2: Ron Stone, Jr., EDGE, Washington State
Week 1: Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado