Another Top 10 college football team falls as Baylor stuns Oklahoma in Waco, and it’s another reminder that no one is safe. Shoot, Georgia even looked vulnerable for almost an entire half. A big reason for that is we’re seeing big performances from underdogs. Those guys who step up make it into our Offensive and Defensive College Football Players of the Week, and we saw some elite performances in Week 11.
College Football Offensive Players of the Week | Week 11
In a crazy season full of uncertainty, one thing has been consistent: explosive offensive players. Here is our Week 11 College Football Offensive Players of the Week.
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
New Mexico State got out to a 3-0 lead over the Crimson Tide to give us a few chuckles before Alabama took over the game. Jameson Williams put in work early for Alabama’s offense, catching 6 passes for 158 yards and 3 touchdowns. He continues his dominance at receiver, and his draft stock will only continue to rise with performances like these.
Abram Smith, RB, Baylor
Abram Smith didn’t produce the most eye-popping numbers, but he came up big when the Bears needed him. He averaged 7.4 yards per rush, including a big 75-yard run against an Oklahoma defense that put up a good fight and made throwing the ball tough for the Bears. Smith finished the game with 148 yards on 20 carries.
Will Rogers, QB, Mississippi State
The Bulldogs might be 6-4, but they keep adding ranked wins to their résumé. Thanks in big part to Rogers, Mississippi State used a 40-6 run to overcome a 28-3 deficit against the 17th-ranked Auburn Tigers.
Rogers completed 44 of his 55 passes for 415 yards and 6 TDs to lead the Bulldogs. He also completed passes to 10 different players.
Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s been trying to find a go-to running back all season, and they might have found one in Braelon Allen. The freshman from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin torched the Northwestern defense for 173 yards and 3 scores. While beating the Wildcats isn’t anything to brag about, the Badgers have now won six games in a row and have a chance to make it to the Big Ten Championship.
Emory Jones, QB, Florida
It’s a good thing Emory Jones had the game he did. Otherwise, Dan Mullen’s future with the program would have been sealed (that part still might be true). Thanks to Jones’ 550 total yards and 7 total touchdowns, the Gators were able to throw a postgame dance party like they just won a national championship. They beat Samford — a 4-6 FCS team.
Lew Nichols III, RB, Central Michigan
If you haven’t watched any MACtion this year, I encourage you to improve your Tuesday and Wednesday nights. We’ve seen some crazy shootouts in November, and that continued in Week 11. Lew Nichols III rushed 43 times for 215 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Chippewas in a 54-30 win over Kent State. His efforts guaranteed him a spot in our Offensive College Football Players of the Week.
Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State
Garrett Wilson was in his bag on Saturday, helping the Buckeyes blow out Purdue at home. He had 126 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns but also added a 51-yard touchdown run. Ohio State appears to be building some momentum towards a playoff run, and Wilson gives them an incredible asset in the passing game.
College Football Defensive Players of the Week | Week 11
These Defensive College Football Players of the Week came to play and made big impacts on their teams’ performances. There is no surprise as to who our first player is.
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
Everyone knew Michigan would have a tough time with Penn State on the road, meaning they needed a big performance from their defense. Aidan Hutchinson and Co. took the challenge. David Ojabo and Hutchinson combined for 5 sacks against Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford, with Hutchinson accounting for 3 of them. Penn State couldn’t figure out how to keep him out of the backfield, which hurt their explosiveness.
Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
A regular to the Defensive College Football Players of the Week, Leo Chenal did it again. The Badgers linebacker led the team with 14 tackles, but he also added 3 tackles for loss (pushing him to 15 on the season), 1 sack, and 1 quarterback hurry.
Wisconsin’s defense continues to lead the team and has given the offense plenty of time to figure things out. Now, they’re on a tear.
Jack Sanborn, LB, Wisconsin
Chenal played well, but so did his partner in crime. Jack Sanborn was the guy everyone knew from the Badgers’ defense coming into the season, but now he’s proving why. He finished second to Chenal in tackles with 10 and also posted 3 tackles for loss.
Yasir Abdullah, LB, Louisville
Louisville made quick work of a Syracuse team that’s surprised many this season. The Cardinals’ defense held Sean Tucker and Garrett Shrader to under 100 yards rushing each, and the Orange didn’t have an answer in their 41-3 defeat. Yasir Abdullah made a big impact, leading the team in tackles (9) while adding 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
Russ Yeast, CB, Kansas State
West Virginia tested Russ Yeast quite a bit on Saturday, and he proved that he was up for the challenge. He defended 3 passes and picked off 1 to lead the Wildcats’ secondary in a big win over the Mountaineers.
Devere Levelston, DT, SMU
SMU isn’t known for its defense, something that typically holds them back, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have guys who can play. Devere Levelston enters the College Football Defensive Players of the Week thanks to his dominant performance against UCF on Saturday. He finished the game with 3 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks against the Knights.
Jacobi Francis, CB, Memphis
The Tigers fell to ECU in overtime on Saturday, adding to a frustrating season. Yet, Jacobi Francis did his part to keep them in the game. He finished with 7 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and picked off Pirates quarterback Holton Ahlers twice to lead the Tigers’ secondary. This defense has been under the spotlight quite a bit because of their struggles, but they’ve seen guys like Francis emerge at critical moments.