Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 2

Heisman Watch

The Leaders:

1. Stetson Bennett, Georgia, Quarterback, Senior.Bennett went 24 of 35 for 300 yards and 2 total touchdowns against Samford as Georgia got the win 33-0. Georgia isn’t a high-scoring offense by nature but a couple of 300+ yards and 2+ touchdown games for Bennett has him at the top of the list right now.
2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior.Stroud was 16 of 24 for 351 yards and 4 touchdowns as Ohio State beat Arkansas State 45-12. Stroud was without two of his top four wide receivers including their best, Jaxon Smith-Njigba but Stroud did what was expected of him as the Buckeyes routed the Red Wolves. 
3. Caleb Williams, USC, Quarterback, Sophomore. Williams was 20 of 27 for 341 yards and 4 touchdowns against an opponent and coach who have made their name upsetting USC in September. Thanks to Williams’ standout performance there was no worry about Stanford upsetting USC this time. That’s an improvement all Trojan fans can love!
4. Bryce Young, Alabama, Wide Receiver, Junior. Young was 27 of 39 for 213 yards and a touchdown with 7 carries for 38 yards on the ground. These numbers may look better as the season goes on and Texas shows that this game wasn’t an exception, but this weekend they were against an unranked team coming off of a 5-7 season. That’s why Young is down in my top 5 this week. I don’t expect him to stay here for long.
5. Bijan Robinson, Texas, Running Back, Junior. Robinson had 21 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown and 3 catches for 73 yards. While not the most explosive numbers, they were critical in keeping Texas so close in their near upset of Alabama. 24 touches for 130 yards and a touchdown is good against the Crimson Tide.

In the Race:

1. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, Quarterback, Senior. Hooker went 24 of 42 for 325 yards for 2 touchdowns in the Vol’s big road win in Pittsburgh. A close game like this was less than a sure thing a year ago for Tennessee in Josh Heupel’s first season so Hooker’s good game and the win have folks in Knoxville feeling pretty great.
2. Jaren Hall, BYU, Quarterback, Junior. Hall went 23 of 39 for 263 yards and 1 touchdown and caught a pass for 22 yards and another touchdown. BYU is like Georgia this year in that their offenses aren’t built to give overwhelming stats but to win close games and Hall did that against an opponent that is still a favorite to win its conference.
3. Will Anderson Jr, Alabama, Linebacker, Junior. Anderson had 5 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and 1 sack for the Crimson Tide. While his numbers aren’t as good as last year and that’s hurting his Heisman campaign, Anderson is still having a good season and is still leading the Crimson Tide defense to stops and wins.
4. Will Rogers, Mississippi State, Quarterback, Junior.  Rogers went 39 of 49 for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns as Mississippi State a solid road win over Arizona. Rogers has the Bulldogs at 2-0 and throwing for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns a game.
5. Garrett Shrader, Syracuse, Quarterback, Junior.  Shrader went 20 of 23 for 287 yards and 5 total touchdowns and has Syracuse to a 2-0 start and some great stats through two early but solid wins.

Making Noise:

1. Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State, Quarterback, Senior. Sanders went 21 of 38 for 268 and 2 touchdowns and had 14 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown on the ground in a big non-conference win over Arizona State for the Cowboys. If Sanders keeps throwing and running well and getting wins for the Cowboys his stock for national recognition will continue to rise.
2. Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State, Running Back, Junior. Vaughn had 24 carries for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns. Vaughn looks to be one of the best running backs in America and to have many games of well over 100 yards and multiple touchdowns and it was big to do against an SEC non-conference foe.
3. Jordan Addison, USC, Wide Receiver, Junior. Addison went off for 7 catches for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns as he and his quarterback Caleb Williams are looking really in sync and on the same page. You know Stanford and David Shaw were working hard to prepare for Addison and it did them no good as he had a fantastic day.
4. Raheim Sanders, Arkansas, Running Back, Sophomore. Sanders had 24 carries for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns and 3 catches for 30 yards totaling 27 touches for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns in a big SEC win for the Razorbacks as they are looking poised to make noise in the SEC West.
5. Drake Maye, North Carolina, Quarterback, Freshman. Maye went 19 of 24 for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns giving him 72 completions in 97 attempts and 930 yards and 12 total touchdowns in his first 3 games as a college quarterback and is on his way to being the most well-known freshman in college football this season.

National Players of the Week

National Player of the Week: 

Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, Wide Receiver, Sophomore.

Harrison had 7 catches for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns. Video game numbers while filling in for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Harrison plays like his father and just catches everything thrown his way. No one had a better day in Week 2 than Marvin Harrison Jr.

National Offensive Player of the Week:

Chase Roberts, BYU, Wide Receiver, Freshman. Roberts played as good a game as anyone on Saturday with 8 catches for 122 yards and 1 touchdown and threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Jaren Hall in a huge game where points were at a premium. Roberts was also in the game more than expected with star receivers Gunner Romney and Puka Nacua being out with injury.

National Defensive Player of the Week:

Tuli Tuipulotu, USC, Defensive Lineman, Junior. Tuipulotu had 5 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. He led the Trojan defense to 12 tackles for a loss and 5 sacks. A Lincoln Riley team with even an above-average defense is a nationally dangerous team and Tuipulotu is a leader on that defense.

National Special Teams Player of the Week:

Phillip Brooks, Kansas State, Wide Receiver, Senior. Brooks had a great game in a huge win for Kansas State in their 40-12 victory over Missouri. Brooks had 3 of Kansas State’s 9 receptions for 57 yards. His biggest play though came on special teams and earned him Special Teams Player of the Week. Brooks took a punt 76 yards to the house for the Wildcats.

Honorable Mention of the Week:

Brad Roberts, Air Force, Running Back, Senior. 24 carries for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns as Air Force beat in-state rival Colorado 41-10.

Sam Hartman, Wake Forest, Quarterback, Junior. Hartman returned to play after one week out and went 18 of 27 for 300 yards for 4 touchdowns as he tries to recapture his 2021 form where he had over 4,200 yards and 39 touchdowns and have the Demon Deacons compete for an ACC Championship.

 Keidron Smith, Kentucky, Defensive Back, Senior. Smith had only one tackle against Florida but he had an interception he returned 65 yards for a touchdown as the Wildcats beat the Gators in the Swamp. Keidron Smith made this pick-six late in the 3rd quarter of a tied game and it was the go-ahead score that won the game for Kentucky.

Andre Carter, Army, Linebacker, Senior. Carter had 4 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks for the Black Knights. He’s been a bright spot despite West Point’s 0-2 start to the season.

 Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State, Defensive Tackle, Sophomore. Hall had 3 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, and 1 sack. Drawing comparisons from fans to Aaron Donald, Hall has been the biggest force on a resurgent Ohio State defense in this young season.