The Week 10 college football players of the week were easy at the top as the Houston vs. SMU game set a new regulation points record in college football history. However, across the board on defense, there were a plethora of options to choose from during College Football Week 10.
Week 10 College Football Players of the Week
Quarterback of the Week: Tanner Mordecai, SMU
It was a matchup for the ages. A Texas-Sized Historical performance. Tanner Mordecai became the first player in FBS history to throw for seven touchdowns and run for another score in the first half against Houston.
He carried that momentum over into the second half and accounted for 10 total touchdowns in a single game, a whopping nine passing touchdowns, and another score on the round.
When it was all said and done, SMU beat Houston 77-63, scoring 140 total points in the contest, a new record for an FBS game that ended in regulation. Mordecai needed every one of his 379 yards and all 10 of his touchdowns to outlast Houston on Saturday night.
Honorable mentions: Clayton Tune, Houston; Austin Reed, Western Kentucky; Austin Aune, North Texas; Jake Haener, Fresno State
Offensive Player of the Week: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
Tallying a whopping 334 total yards of offense, Devin Neal quite literally ran over the Oklahoma State defense. Neal ran the ball 32 times for 224 yards and caught six passes out of the backfield for another 110 yards.
His all-around effort paced the way for the Jayhawks to defeat the Cowboys 37-16 and become bowl-eligible. Neal utilized his combination of size and power with his speed and elusiveness to burst past tacklers left and right.
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Neal’s vision was in top form against the Cowboys as he continually found the hole in the defense. He exploited those holes and found mismatch after mismatch in a dominant outing.
Honorable mentions: Puka Nacua, WR, BYU; La’Damian Webb, RB, South Alabama; Edward Saydee, Temple; Tre Harris, WR, Louisiana Tech;
Defensive Player of the Week: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Providing multiple teaching tapes for prospective defensive backs, Christian Gonzalez put on a clinic against his former team. Transferring from Colorado to Oregon this past offseason, Gonzalez ripped off two interceptions against the Buffs on Saturday.
In the first interception, Gonzalez stayed perfectly in phase with his receiver, turning his hips just before the ball arrived, and snatched it away at the catch point. He returned it to the 2-yard line, setting up Oregon for a score.
His second interception showcased an even rarer skill. In zone coverage, Gonzalez broke off his area when he saw the ball was launched, moving seamlessly from his zone to erasing a throw that was open at the launch.
However, his speed and closing ability, coupled with his smooth transitions and instinctive ball skills, made this one of the more impressive interceptions of the year.
Honorable mentions: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia; Deslin Alexandre, EDGE, Pittsburgh; Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
Special Teams Player of the Week: Lachlan Wilson, P, Tulsa
Doing everything he could, Lachlan Wilson was the real MVP of Tulsa’s upset bid over Tulane. Though they didn’t even really come close to pulling off an upset, Wilson did his best to pin the Green Wave back deep in their own territory.
Wilson set his defense up in favorable situations, drilling his first five punts inside the Tulane 20-yard line. In total, he punted six times for 279 yards, with those five inside the 20.
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He averaged 46.5 yards per kick and just over 46 yards net on every boot as well. He had a long of 74 that was perfectly placed at the one-yard line after a favorable bounce gave Wilson the assist.
Honorable mentions: Derius Davis, PR, TCU; Camden Price, K, Temple; Christopher Dunn, K, NC State; Tucker Holloway, PR, Virginia Tech
Freshman Player of the Week: Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
Impacting the game more than any statistical sheet could show, Harold Perkins Jr. proved the future — and the present — are potentially special for this LSU defense. Perkins was all over the field in his stiffest test to date against Alabama’s offensive line.
He slid his way into traffic beautifully. Perkins stuffed and filled the run even better. And when it was called upon him, Perkins rushed Bryce Young with great success.
He was credited with a sack and three more hurries, but it certainly felt like he could do whatever he wanted when he blitzed.
Honorable mentions: E.J. Warner, QB, Temple; Jordyn Tyson, WR, Colorado; Victor Rosa, RB, UConn; Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State; Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa