If you haven’t learned anything about college football by now, it’s because nothing makes sense. Upsets and ranked teams struggling headlined Week 4, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t see anyone ball out. It was another great week of performances, so let’s look at the College Football Players of the Week for Week 4.
Week 4 College Football Players of the Week | Offense
It was a tough week if you played defense, and some of these guys put up career numbers.
QB Christian Anderson, Army
It was another dominant performance in Week 4 of college football for the Black Knights, but not in the traditional sense. Army held the ball for 39 minutes and 36 seconds on their way to a 23-10 win, and Christian Anderson orchestrated the offensive attack. He rushed for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns while also attempting 5 passes (completing none of those attempts).
QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt
Kenny Pickett made quick work of New Hampshire, leading Pitt to 49 first-half points. We didn’t get to see him in the second half, but fans were treated to a 403-yard, 5-touchdown performance by a quarterback who’s doing a lot for his draft stock. Pitt came off a frustrating loss to Western Michigan but made sure they didn’t have another letdown.
WR Jordan Addison, Pitt
Someone had to catch the passes that Pickett threw, and Jordan Addison happily obliged. Lost in Pickett’s success is the season that Addison’s having this year. The senior continues making big plays for the Panthers’ offense, one that’s more explosive than we’ve seen in recent years.
WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
Jameson Williams only caught a single pass against Southern Miss, but it went for 81 yards and a touchdown. That puts him on this list? Yep, but only if you pair it with his 3 kick returns for 177 yards and 2 additional touchdowns. Alabama made quick work of the Golden Eagles, and Williams was the answer to most of the Tide’s questions.
The Ohio State transfer took a big risk transferring to Tuscaloosa, but all he’s done since arriving is make plays. First, it was on the offensive side of the ball, but now he’s adding an explosive presence to the return game.
WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Arkansas only completed 9 passes on Saturday, but 6 of them landed in Treylon Burks‘ hands. He took those limited touches and turned them into 167 yards and a touchdown. In a big game against Texas A&M, Burks ensured his team would leave with a win and made a big splash early in the game with an 85-yard TD catch.
RB Ulysses Bentley IV, SMU
SMU played arguably the most thrilling college football game of Week 4, and they found a way to retain the Iron Skillet. Ulysses Bentley IV didn’t put up the biggest numbers of the weekend, but he had a great game in a heated rivalry. The Mustangs’ star rushed 20 times for 153 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and a touchdown to lead the rushing attack.
WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
Xavier Worthy only caught 5 passes, but it’s what he did with those passes that made an impact. In a shootout against Texas Tech, Worthy produced 100 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Longhorns’ passing attack. Steve Sarkisian’s offense has now produced 128 points in the last two games, reminding fans why he was hired in the first place. Worthy emerged as a potential go-to option for the Longhorns, and Texas could be a legitimate threat now.
RB Sincere McCormick, UTSA
Week 4 of college football wasn’t looking good for UTSA, but they managed to turn things around after a slow start. Sincere McCormick only averaged 4.4 yards per carry, but UTSA was determined to pound the rock. The Roadrunners’ star ran the ball an astounding 42 times for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns in the upset win over Memphis. UTSA fell behind 21-0 early but stuck to its principles and allowed McCormick to help steady the comeback.
College Football Players of the Week | Defense
Who are the Players of the Week for Week 4 on the defensive side of the ball?
DT Haskell Garrett, Ohio State
All of the talk surrounding the Buckeyes’ program is about the quarterbacks and TreVeyon Henderson, but it was Haskell Garrett who stood out on Saturday. The Buckeyes’ star defensive tackle produced 5 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks to lead a defense that held Akron to just 7 points.
S Xavier Henderson, Michigan State
Nebraska did everything it could to pull off the upset against Michigan State, but Xavier Henderson made sure that they didn’t do too much. The Spartans’ ever-present safety led both teams with 17 tackles and also produced a tackle for a loss. In a classic Big Ten battle, the Spartans needed him to step up, and he did not disappoint.
LB Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech
Week 4 of college football ruined the ACC. Georgia Tech sent North Carolina back to the drawing board thanks to a defense that made life tough for the Tar Heels. This weekend, Charlie Thomas lived in North Carolina’s backfield and produced 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Yellow Jackets were in danger of falling to 1-3 but held one of the most explosive offenses in the country well under their averages.
DL Ali Fayad, Western Michigan
In a highly underrated Group of Five college football matchup, Western Michigan dominated the reigning Mountain West champion San Jose State Spartans. The Broncos’ offense did enough in the 23-3 win, but it was the defense that dominated from start to finish. San Jose State only managed 119 total yards of offense. That was largely thanks to Ali Fayad. He was in Nick Starkel’s face all game, producing 3 tackles for loss, 3 QB hurries, and 2 sacks.