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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 TCU quarterback Josh Hoover has been named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week after leading the Horned Frogs to a big victory over BYU. In the 44-11 victory, Hoover threw 37 completions on his 58 pass attempts for 439 yards and passing for 4 touchdowns. The freshman also added 26 rushing yards on his only carry of the game. In Hoover’s first start, he tied former Horned Frog quarterbacks Max Duggan and Casey Pachall for touchdowns in a game in their first start. The Horned Frog quarterback’s completions in a game were also most in a game by a TCU quarterback since 2013 when Pachall went 40-58 against West Virginia
The Horned Frogs will be on the move this weekend when they travel to Kansas State to take on the Wildcats.
Weekly Winners
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 he Ray Guy Award will be taking Week 7 off of Ray's 8 and Punter of the Week due to extenuating staff circumstances. We will resume weekly awards for Week 8.
Weekly Winners
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
DALLAS (FWAA) – A powerful second half led the LSU Tigers to a 48-18 win over Auburn last week with its offensive line helping churn up 563 total yards. As last week’s highest-graded player on an experienced line, LSU center Charles Turner III has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 14, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
Turner, a 6-4, 300-pound redshirt senior from Canton, Ohio, via Florida’s IMG Academy, was a catalyst on an offensive line that pushed LSU to average 8.5 yards per play and 6.1 yards per rush; the Tigers have topped 200 yards rushing in their last three games at Ole Miss (233), at Missouri (274) and against Auburn (238). LSU didn’t have a negative-yardage play on any of its designed run plays and running back Logan Diggs (97 yards) and quarterback Jayden Daniels (93) each neared the 100-yard rushing mark.
LSU took over the game scoring touchdowns on all four of its second-half possessions and converted on 6-of-9 third down opportunities.
The Tigers have an experienced line and Turner, who graduated earlier this year, leads them with 27 career starts, 25 of them at center. All five have at least 20 career starts and LSU has benefitted from having the same starting five up front in their first seven games for the first time since 2013. Combined, the five starters have 127 starts in their LSU careers.
Turner is one of three players on LSU’s roster who were on the Tigers’ 2019 national championship team along with running backs John Emery and Josh Williams – all three were true freshmen. The 2019 title season was also the last time for LSU to have an FWAA All-American when Lloyd Cushenberry made the second team.
LSU has one Outland Trophy winner in its past in defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey in 2007. Two other linemen, defensive tackle Chad Lavalais (2003) and guard Alan Faneca (1997) were previous finalists. Another Tigers center, Ethan Pocic, was a semifinalist in 2016.
LSU hosts Army on Saturday, with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on the SEC Network. The Bayou Bengals are ranked 19th in the AFCA Coaches' and AP polls, 16th in the Super 16 Poll, and 18th in the Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com.
Weekly Winners
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
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been named Maxwell Award player of The Week after their stunner against the No. 9 Oregon Ducks. Penix would have an impressive day throwing 22-for-37 attempts for 302 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. His performance would also aid in adding to Washington’s all time wins (62) against Oregon, bringing their all time record to 62-to-48.
The Huskies are back home this weekend to host Arizona State this Saturday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Weekly Winners
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, QB, Florida State
Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson has been named Bednarik Player of The Week after a hard fought loss to No. 11 Alabama on the road. The 6 '7 281 junior was electric, earning career highs in tackles (11), solo tackles (7), sacks (3.5), and TFLs (3.5). The Texas native would also become the first Arkansas defender to sack the quarterback over 3 times in a game since 2013.
The Razorbacks are back in Fayetteville this weekend to play Mississippi State this Saturday, October 21 at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Weekly Winners
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. For the second week in a row, Hale is a Groza Star, this time for knocking through four field goals in Oklahoma State’s 39-32 upset of Kansas. Following last week’s 5-FG game, the senior from Point Frederick, Australia becomes the first kicker in program history to make nine field goals in a two-game span. Three of the four kicks came in the Cowboys’ comeback from 8 points down late in the third quarter. Hale now sits in a three-way tie atop the FBS leaderboard with 15 field goals this season.
Scott Taylor Renfroe of Troy kicked four field goals and that was more than enough offense in Troy’s 19-0 shutout of Army. The sophomore from Troy, Ala. tied the program record with his kicks from 43, 35, 32 and 24 yards out, but that’s far from the only mark he’s set this year. Just seven games into the season, he’s already tied the Trojan record with 6 multi-FG games. Tied for the FBS lead with 15 field goals this year, he’s just the third kicker in Sun Belt history with that many makes in a team’s first seven games.
Trey Smack of Florida put together his second massive game of the season, kicking four field goals and scoring 15 points in Florida’s 41-39 road win over South Carolina. The sophomore from Severna Park, Md. matched his career-long with a 54-yarder to go along with makes from 48, 44 and 28 yards out. It’s Smack’s second Groza Star recognition this year, joining his 5-for-5 outing against Charlotte where he also connected from 54 yards. He only has two attempts in Florida’s other five games combined, giving him an 11-for-12 overall mark that ties him as the fourth-most accurate FBS kicker among those with double-digit attempts so far.
Weekly Winners
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)
Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II posted a career-best game in Saturday’s 39-32 win over No. 23 Kansas, recording 284 total yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 35 offensive touches. The performance earned him the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 14.
With those numbers, Gordon became the only player in the FBS this season and the first OSU player since 1989 (Gerald Hudson vs. Kansas) to record more than 100 rushing and receiving yards in a single game.
The sophomore from Fort Worth, Texas, ran for 168 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries and added 116 receiving yards and a touchdown on six catches. The rushing and receiving totals both led all players in the game and marked career highs.
His 282 all-purpose yards were the most by a Cowboy since All-American Chuba Hubbard posted 303 against Kansas State in 2019.
The Cowboys host West Virginia on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Other candidates for the honor in Week 7 included:
Weekly Winners
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
DALLAS (FWAA) – Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts’ two interceptions off USC quarterback Caleb Williams would have been notable enough in the No. 21 Irish's 48-20 domination over the No. 10 Trojans. But in addition to scoring those picks off the reigning Heisman Trophy winner that set up Irish tourchdowns, Watts also scored one himself on a fumble return that sealed Saturday’s primetime affair. For playing a key role on three of Notre Dame’s six touchdowns, Watts earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 14, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
Watts, a 5-11, 200-pound senior safety but with junior eligibility from Omaha, Neb., stood out among all defenders Saturday. Watts made seven tackles to go with a forced fumble and a pass breakup. His fumble-return touchdown went 15 yards, and he took his interception returns back 61 yards.
His impact was notable in the transitions on the play-by-play ledger. Both of Watts’ interceptions resulted in Notre Dame touchdowns. The first came on USC’s game-opening drive, and the 38-yard return to the USC 12 led to the Irish’s first touchdown and set the tone for Notre Dame’s commanding defensive play. The next pick came in the second quarter, which he returned 23 yards to the USC 2. Notre Dame scored on the next play. Later in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame forced a USC fumble that Watts scooped up and returned 15 yards for the Irish’s final score. On USC’s final drive, Watts forced a fumble to allow Notre Dame to close the game in victory formation.
Watts and the Irish defense held a USC team that came into the game leading the nation in scoring offense (51.8 ppg) to just 20 points, and USC’s passing offense that was third in the nation (355.2 ypg) gained only 199 yards through the air. On the season, Notre Dame’s defense now ranks third nationally in passing yards allowed (153.1), fourth in team passing efficiency defense (97.49), fourth in red zone defense (0.640), sixth in passes intercepted (9) and seventh in defensive touchdowns (2).
Worth noting for future trivia reference – Watts is the only player to individually intercept Caleb Williams twice in one game in Williams’ college career.
Watts, who began his Notre Dame career as a wide receiver, has been a playmaker and score-maker all season. All four of his interceptions that currently tie for third in the FBS have set Notre Dame up in the red zone and directly led to 24 points. And he now has Saturday’s fumble return touchdown on his ledger as well.
Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2012 and is the Irish's lone winner. Fellow linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was a finalist for the award in 2020, as was cornerback Shane Walton in 2002. The Fighting Irish have had a defensive back earn FWAA All-America status in three of the past five seasons – two-time first-team All-America safety Kyle Hamilton did it in 2020 and 2021, and cornerback Julian Love earned it in 2018, also on the first team.
Weekly Winners
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