Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 3

Heisman Watch

The Leaders:

1. Stetson Bennett, Georgia, Quarterback, Senior. Bennett was 16 of 23 for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns and added 3 carries for 36 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground. Bennett’s the best player on the best team in the country and he’s playing like the champion he is. For the season Bennett is 65 of 88 for 952 yards and 8 total touchdowns.
2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior. Stroud was 22 of 27 for 367 yards and 5 touchdown passes in the Buckeyes’ 77-21 win over Toledo. Stroud’s Heisman resume looks good thus far in the season. He is 62 of 85 for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. He is the main reason the Buckeyes are legitimate title contenders.
3. Bryce Young, Alabama, Quarterback, Junior. Young went 13 of 18 for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns and 3 carries for 6 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground. Young however had 2 interceptions, against ULM and that’s why he’s down a little more from last week. On the season Young is 58 of 85 for 644 yards and 9 passing touchdowns with 15 rushes for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns. Young and Alabama are still Alabama, thus the Heisman and titles will likely remain within reach all season.
4. Caleb Williams, USC, Quarterback, Sophomore. Williams had another good game going 25 of 37 for 284 yards and 4 total touchdowns. On the year he is 64 of 86 for 874 yards and 10 total touchdowns. The Trojans are continually improving each week and are easily the PAC12 favorites and have a shot at the playoff. As long as those are in view, so is the Heisman for Williams.
5. Bijan Robinson, Texas, Running Back, Junior. Robinson had 21 touches for 202 yards and 3 touchdowns (20 carries for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground). For the season Robinson has 51 carries for 311 yards and 5 touchdowns rushing. He also has 7 catches for 132 yards and 1 touchdown. Look for Robinson’s play to continue to rise as Texas looks strong heading toward Big 12 play.

In the Race:

1. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama, Linebacker, Junior. Anderson’s best play of the day was a 26-yard interception returned for a touchdown. Anderson had 5 tackles, 1 sack, and 1.5 tackles for a loss as well. Anderson led a ball-hawking Tide defense that recorded 4 sacks, 9 tackles for a loss, and 4 quarterback hurries. On the season Anderson has 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, and 1 interception returned for a touchdown. He’ll need those numbers to continue and even increase if he hopes to win an award mostly given to offensive players.
2. Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State, Quarterback, Senior. Sanders was 13 of 16 for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns before being pulled early as the Cowboys crushed Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Sanders has been consistent and outstanding for the 8th Ranked and defending Fiesta Bowl Champions as they look to play for a Big 12 title again.
3. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, Quarterback, Senior. Hooker was 14 of 18 for 298 yards and 2 touchdowns, in the best start Tennessee has had since Josh Dobbs was their signal caller. Hooker is also the best Vol quarterback since Dobbs.
4. Garrett Shrader, Syracuse, Quarterback, Junior. Shrader has Syracuse off to a 3-0 start with big wins over Louisville and Purdue who were both expected to be better than them this year. Shrader again had a good game through the air and on the ground. He was 13 of 29 for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns passing and 17 carries for 83 yards on the ground. Syracuse is making some serious noise in the ACC.
5. K.J. Jefferson, Arkansas, Quarterback, Junior. Jefferson was 19 of 31 for 385 yards and 2 touchdowns in the air and 9 carries for 40 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground. For the whole season, Jefferson is 55 of 78 for 770 yards and 6 touchdowns in the passing game and has 46 rushes for 169 yards and 3 touchdowns in the running game. Jefferson will face another stiff test in rival Texas A&M next.

Making Noise:

1. Raheim Sanders, Arkansas, Running Back, Sophomore. Sanders had 22 carries for 167 yards and 1 touchdown rushing. He also had 2 catches for 75 yards and 1 touchdown receiving. On the season Sanders has 66 carries for 440 yards and 3 touchdowns and has 8 catches for 117 yards and 1 touchdown.
2. Mohammed Ibrahim, Minnesota, Running Back, Senior.Ibrahim had 23 carries for 202 yards and 3 touchdowns and has the current Big Ten West favorite playing well with a 3-0 start to the 2022 season. Ibrahim has 67 carries for 464 yards and 7 touchdowns on the season.
3. Sam Hartman, Wake Forest, Quarterback, Junior. Sam Hartman went 26 of 44 in his second game of the season for 325 yards and 3 touchdowns. Hartman is 44 of 71 for 625 yards and 7 touchdowns in the two games he’s been able to play this season.
4. Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina, Quarterback, Junior. McCall was 16 of 24 for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns in Coastal Carolina’s win over Buffalo. On the season McCall is 50 of 71 for 833 yards and 10 total touchdowns. McCall and his mullet have Coastal Carolina looking to be the best Group of 5 team in 2022 and in shooting range of a New Years’ Six Bowl.
5. Jordan Addison, USC, Wide Receiver, Junior. Addison caught 6 passes for 69 yards in the win over the Fresno State Bulldogs. Addison has 18 catches, for 295 yards and 5 touchdowns. Addison is in a stiff race for the receiver of the year but is off to a good start and will have many more opportunities to shine.

National Players of the Week

National Player of the Week:

Michael Penix Jr., Washington, Quarterback, Senior. was 24 of 40 for 397 yards and 4 touchdowns in the upset of the week when the Washington Huskies defeated the Michigan State Spartans in what is the win of Week 3. Penix, an Indiana transfer, had faced the Spartans before, but had never gotten the better of them the way he did in this huge win for the Huskies.

National Offensive Player of the Week:

Bo Nix, Oregon, Quarterback, Senior. Nix was 13 of 18 for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns with an additional 35 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Bo Nix had 5 total touchdowns as the Ducks quacked down on the Cougars. Nix and Oregon showed that their season is far from over and Georgia might actually be that good.

National Defensive Player of the Week:

Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State, Safety, Senior.

Brown had 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 quarterback hurry, and 1 interception. He did a little of everything as the Nittany Lions held the Tigers to 12 points on The Plains. Penn State is now 3-0 with good road wins early in the season.

National Special Teams Player of the Week:

Bryce Stephens, Arkansas, Wide Receiver, Freshman. 3 returns for 102 yards and 1 touchdown. His 82-yard return gave Arkansas the lead and deciding score in their harder-than-expected win over Missouri State and former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

Honorable Mention of the Week:

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State, Wide Receiver, Sophomore. Egbuka had 7 catches for 116 yards and 2 total touchdowns in Ohio State’s 77-21 win over Toledo.

Nicholas Singleton, Penn State, Running Back, Freshman. On only 10 carries Singleton had 124 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Washington Huskies receiver. Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington, Wide Receiver, Freshman. Polk had 6 catches for 153 yards and 3 touchdowns and is a huge reason why Penix played so well in the victory of Michigan State.

Jalon Daniels, Kansas, Quarterback, Junior. The Kansas Jayhawk quarterback (Yes, Kansas) was 14 of 23 for 158 yards and 3 touchdowns in the air and 12 carries and 123 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Daniels had 278 total yards and 5 total touchdowns. The Jayhawks are now 3-0 and 1-0 in the Big 12.

Brock Bowers, Georgia, Tight End, Sophomore. Bowers had 5 catches for 121 yards and 3 total touchdowns and is a huge target (in every way) and a huge part of the Georgia offense.