The Week 2 College Football Team of the Week caps what was a wild weekend of action during the 2022 college football season. Like always, this list aims to award the top performers at every position from across the slate of games at each level against any competition.
Week 2 College Football Team of the Week | First team
It’s important to note that the PFN Week 2 College Football Team of the Week awards players based on their impact in their respective games and is not necessarily based on total statistical output.
The strength of competition is accounted for, as is the situation — both time of the game and score. These individual awards are also solely based on a player’s ability on Saturday and do not look into their future stock or NFL draft prospects.
Quarterback: Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern
Capping what was a weekend full of upsets, the Georgia Southern Eagles went into Lincoln and marched up and down the field on Nebraska. Southern got the victory thanks due to their offensive leader Kyle Vantrease, who threw for over 400 yards and ultimately scored the game-winning rushing touchdown with just 36 seconds remaining. Vantrease bounced back from two interceptions to lead his team to an upset victory as a three-touchdown underdog, headlining what was an incredible day of upsets.
Running back: Khalan Laborn, Marshall
On Saturday, the bell cow for the Marshall Thundering Herd was Khalan Laborn. He opened the scoring in the first quarter and ultimately set up the Thundering Herd’s go-ahead score in the fourth quarter after making one of the more impressive runs of the day.
Laborn took a handoff up the middle and carved his way to the second level where he turned All-American safety Brandon Joseph inside out and grasping for air. The run set up a Devin Miller receiving TD before a pick-six sealed the deal on the ensuing drive. In total, Laborn ran it 31 times for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Running back: Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
As impressive as Deuce Vaughn’s day in the box score was, it was his highlight-reel blocking moment that gave him the edge over the rest of the nation’s backs. Vaughn ran for 145 yards on 24 carries and scored twice on the ground. But it was his lead block for QB Adrian Martinez that sprung his signal-caller in for six and showcased his all-around ability and toughness at the same time. Vaughn carried the load for the Wildcats after the rain took the air out of the ball, literally, in Manhattan.
Wide receiver: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Marvin Harrison Jr. has officially announced himself in the 2022 season. With three receiving touchdowns against Arkansas State, Harrison has hauled in six touchdowns over his past three games. He finished Saturday with seven receptions for 184 yards as he was unstoppable for the Buckeyes.
It’s a welcome sign for Ohio State fans as Jaxon Smith-Njigba missed the game against the Red Wolves with an injury that held him out of most of the Notre Dame game. Harrison proved he can take over at will with his all-around abilities.
Wide receiver: Jordan Addison, USC
The Jordan Addison we remembered from last season showed up in a big way for USC on Saturday. Addison, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner, hauled in seven catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns, but it was how he won along his routes that was most impressive. Addison has some of the smoothest routes in the country, and he put Stanford defenders in spin cycles or left them in the dust on Saturday.
Wide receiver: Zakhari Franklin, UTSA
The UTSA Roadrunners got a vintage Frank Harris performance just as they did Zakhari Franklin in their thrilling win against Army. Franklin made 10 catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. His second score of the day was the play that sparked the UTSA come-from-behind victory. This historic duo for the UTSA program should be expected to make some serious noise in Conference USA play once again this fall.
Tight end: Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Against an overmatched Southern Utah team, Dalton Kincaid had a field day. Kincaid ripped off seven catches for 107 yards and the final two touchdowns of a dramatic second quarter that saw the Utes put up 38 points over the 15 minutes ahead of halftime. Kincaid has receiver-like skills and proved to be a mismatch for whoever attempted to cover him on Saturday.
Flex: Brad Roberts, Air Force
The Air Force Falcons ran away from Colorado in their in-state rivalry contest, thanks in part to Brad Roberts’ massive day on the ground. The Air Force RB toted it 24 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns. Roberts has proven to be too much for any defense to handle over his career and placed himself in historic company with his 11th career 100-yard performance.
Offensive tackle: Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
Penn State’s rushing attack was in high gear from the opening whistle against Ohio. Thanks in large part to Olumuyiwa Fashanu’s efforts, the Nittany Lions ran the ball for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Fashanu was great at both the point of attack and when hunting for second-level defenders to pancake. He was great on the ground and just as efficient in pass protection.
Guard: Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
When the going got tough and the rain started to come down, the road graders on the Kansas State offensive line had to take over. Thanks to Cooper Beebe, the Wildcats dominated the Missouri defensive front, taking over and running away with the game. Beebe was integral in the majority of Kansas State’s successful carries, especially to the left side where he moved incredibly well.
Center: Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
This Arkansas team has been built from the ground up, and Ricky Stromberg is arguably the most important piece of the rebuild under head coach Sam Pittman. Stromberg embodies the Arkansas spirit and is a darn good blocker to boot. He was moving well in the passing game, calling out the protections, but he was exceptional on the ground. Stromberg will be an NFL draft pick sooner than later, and his place as one of the all-time great centers is not up for debate.
Guard: Tashawn Manning, Kentucky
The Big Blue Wave was dominant for the most part against Florida, especially in the second half. Thanks largely to Tashawn Manning, the Wildcats got the job done in Gainesville as the 6’4″, 330-pound big man got better as the game went along. Manning was efficient in both facets and even stepped up when his right tackle next to him started the game sluggishly.
Offensive tackle: Kendrick Sartor, Marshall
In order to knock off a team like Notre Dame in South Bend, the Marshall offense needed to set a tone. And they needed to physically get after it in the trenches.
Kendrick Sartor was the tone-setter for the Thundering Herd’s offensive efforts, getting after the Notre Dame defensive line in both facets. Sartor was regularly downfield blocking for Laborn or looking for work in the passing game during a dominant outing.
EDGE: Derek Parish, Houston
Ultimately, it came in defeat, but Derek Parish put the American Athletic Conference on notice. Opposing quarterbacks will surely know where No. 0 is when they line up against the Cougars this season after exploding for a four-sack performance against Texas Tech.
With how fast the Red Raiders want to throw the ball, Parish’s four sacks are a testament to the speed in which he wins his pass-rush reps. He was great against the run as well, bringing down an additional two tackles for loss.
EDGE: Quindarius Dunnigan, Middle Tennessee
After a disastrous season-opening outing, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders got their acts back together for a big win against Colorado State. A big part of their dominance on Saturday was their defense and Quindarius Dunnigan’s 2.5 sacks in the outing.
Colorado State’s transition to an Air Raid offense has been sluggish, but they still get the ball out quickly enough to bring up the fact that Dunnigan’s pass-rushing wins were super impressive.
Defensive interior: Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State
The Oklahoma State defensive line put on a pass-rushing clinic against Arizona State on Saturday night. Tyler Lacy consistently pushed and collapsed the pocket around ASU QB Emory Jones, getting home with a sack and a handful of other pressures.
If Lacy wasn’t getting home with the sack, though, he was pushing Jones off his spot and forcing him up into the waiting arms of his teammates Brock Martin, Collin Oliver, or any number of Pokes defenders that crashed to the ball.
Defensive interior: Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois
Utilizing a strong defensive effort en route to victory, Keith Randolph Jr. paced the Illinois victory against Virginia. When rushing Brennan Armstrong, Randolph used his strength to push the pocket and get home with a sack and a few more QB hurries. He was also terrific at limiting running lanes from opening, helping the Illini defense allow just 42 total rushing yards on the afternoon.
Linebacker: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
It took them a little bit, but the Oklahoma Sooners eventually took over against Kent State. Thanks to Danny Stutsman, Kent State could muster just three points and 131 yards through the air.
Stutsman recorded 12 total tackles, including nine solo stops with four of them coming behind the line of scrimmage. He was all over the field against the Golden Flashes, recording a sack and turning heads in each facet.
Linebacker: Drew Sanders, Arkansas
The Arkansas defense swarmed to the football against South Carolina. Leading the pack more often than not was Drew Sanders.
Single-handedly stopping multiple drives, the Razorback LB put forth one of the better performances from a linebacker in this young season. Embodying the Arkansas tenacity, Sanders came downhill incredibly well and recorded 11 total tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, and was an important piece in the flats, covering a ton of ground with ease in pass defense.
Linebacker: Cedric Gray, North Carolina
What a difference one player can make. When Cedric Gray was on the field, the North Carolina defense was a different unit. Gray was a force off the edge when he blitzed, but it was his instincts and read-and-react ability that jumped off the tape. He finished with 14 total tackles, 11 solo stops, and two tackles for loss. Gray kept everything in front of him and tracked down ball carriers from the backside just as well.
Flex: Gabe Taylor, Rice
After being on the wrong end of pick-six moments last week, Gabe Taylor and the Rice Owls got a bit of revenge on McNeese State on Saturday. Taylor stepped in front of a pass halfway through the second quarter, returning it 91 yards with some impressive open-field moves in his own right. Taylor also showcased blitzing ability with his all-around performance.
Cornerback: Kordell Rodgers, Texas State
Cruising against an overmatched FIU team, Texas State saw a big-time performance from Kordell Rodgers. Recording two interceptions, Rodgers even got in on the scoring with his 60-yard return for a touchdown that put the exclamation point on the game in the waning stages of the fourth quarter. It was a great showing in coverage against a team that has the weapons at receiver to make noise.
Cornerback: Steven Gilmore, Marshall
Steven Gilmore called game against Notre Dame, stepping in front of a hitch route on the outside and returning it for what would become the game-winning touchdown. Gilmore’s perfect read of the quarterback showcased what makes him a highly-thought of cornerback prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft. He has the length, burst, and instincts that elite cornerbacks need.
Cornerback: Keidron Smith, Kentucky
There was a miscommunication between Anthony Richardson and his receiver, but that doesn’t matter when you see the break that Keidron Smith made on the ball.
Smith read Richardson like a book in Kentucky’s win over Florida, jumping the route even if the receiver hadn’t run straight up field, returning it 65 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Smith’s interception marks the fifth season in a row that he’s recorded a pick as the super-senior now has six career interceptions.
Safety: Quindell Johnson, Memphis
Playing the Navy offense is a feat in and of itself for most teams. For Quindell Johnson, it’s old hat.
After recording seven tackles and a sack against the Midshipmen last season and 12 total tackles against Navy in 2020, Johnson outdid himself with 13 total tackles that included 11 solo stops. He played incredibly well, coming downhill like a linebacker and ensuring all his reads didn’t cross the line of scrimmage without him getting a hand on them. Johnson rounded out the performance with an interception, his second in as many games this season.
Safety: Jaylen Stinson, Duke
It was Jaylen Stinson who saved the game for the Duke Blue Devils on Saturday. As Evan Hull extended for the end zone, Stinson’s perfectly-timed helmet shot smashed the ball out of Hull’s hands and into the end zone for a touchback, subsequently ending the game for Duke. Stinson finished the game with 11 total tackles and the game-winning forced fumble.
Kicker: John Hoyland, Wyoming
In a sluggish half offensively for Wyoming, it was John Hoyland that kept the contest from finishing in a scoreless tie at the half. With kicks made of 23, 39, and 41 yards in the first half, Hoyland gave the Cowboys their only points of the first two frames. He would finish with 15 total points and was perfect on the evening with four field goals and three extra points made.
Punter: James Burnip, Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide may not have had their best outing against Texas on Saturday afternoon. However, when they needed him, James Burnip certainly put forth his best efforts. Burnip punted six times for 249 yards, but most importantly, knocked three of those down inside the Longhorns’ 20-yard line.
Kick returner: Terrell Vaughn, Utah State
Without the services of Terrell Vaughn, the Utah State Aggies wouldn’t have scored against Weber State. In a 35-7 defeat, it was Vaughn’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter that gave the Aggies their only points of the contest. He had three other returns and four catches on offense, but his spark on special teams would be the only flash the Utah State team had all game long.
Punt returner: Phillip Brooks, Kansas State
Putting an exclamation mark on a dominant second quarter from all three facets for Kansas State was Phillip Brooks with his 76-yard punt return for a touchdown. Brooks, an All-American punt returner in the past, put his skills on display with his effort on Saturday. After nearly being tackled at the catch point, Brooks broke a tackle, used his speed to get around the corner, and it was dust the Missouri defenders were reaching at after that.
Week 2 College Football Team of the Week | Second team
Offense
QB: Caleb Williams, USC
RB: Raheim Sanders, Arkansas
RB: Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
WR: Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
WR: Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
WR: Tory Horton, Colorado State
TE: Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
FLEX: Evan Hull, Northwestern
OT: Anderson Hardy, Appalachian State
G: Dalton Tucker, Marshall
C: Preston Wilson, Oklahoma State
G: Andrew Vorhees, USC
OT: Cooper Hodges, Appalachian State
Defense
EDGE: Andre Carter II, Army
EDGE: Brock Martin, Oklahoma State
IDL: Elijah Chatman, SMU
IDL: Marcus Harris, Auburn
LB: Layton Jordan, Temple
LB: Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State
LB: Kyle Soelle, Arizona State
CB: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
CB: Cobee Bryant, Kansas
CB: Jarron Morris, Texas State
S: Trey Dean III, Florida
S: R.J. Hubert, Utah
Flex: Tra Fluellen, Middle Tennessee
Special teams
K: Chris Howard, Memphis
P: Eddie Czaplicki, Arizona State
KR: Renard Bell, Washington State
PR: A.J. Henning, Michigan