College football Week 9 provided us with so many standout performances that, at times, it was difficult to keep track of them. Obscene offensive displays, defensive domination, special special teams, and phenomenal freshman are all recognized as the top college football players from the last five days of action.
Introducing the CFN College Football Players of the Week for Week 9.
Week 9 College Football Players of the Week
Quarterback of the Week: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Don’t let a lack of gaudy statistics in their Week 9 win over the Utah Utes fool you: Bo Nix was at his brilliant, Bo-Dacious best as the Oregon Ducks steamrolled the reigning Pac-12 champions in Salt Lake City. Nix’s ability to efficiently dice up a defense that has been one of the best in the nation was a joy to behold. The Oregon quarterback completed 77.4% of his 31 pass attempts.
MORE: Week 9 Team of the Week
The result was 248 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Nix found the end zone with his legs top open the scoring early on in one of the highlight games of the day. He orchestrated an offense that scored more points on Utah than any other team in the country so far. In the process, he helped end Utah’s 18-game home win streak. The Heisman campaign continues apace.
Honorable mentions: Kaidon Salter, Liberty; Preston Stone, SMU; Haynes King, Georgia Tech; Jordan Travis, FSU; Frank Harris
Offensive Player of the Week: Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams, RB, UMass
In a week that saw almost too many standout offensive performances to choose from, Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams fought off strong competition to assert himself amongst the top players in college football. Yes, there were more statistically impressive showings in Week 9. Yes, there were performances that have more impact on how the season plays out down the stretch.
Yet, no one player in the nation was more responsible for their team’s success than UMass running back Lynch-Adams. He was the Minutemen offense in the 21-14 road win over Army. Opening the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown run, the former Rutgers back added two further touchdowns as part of a career-high 234-yard, three-score night. Adams is having a career year.
Honorable mentions: Blake Watson, RB, Memphis; Frank Gore Jr., RB, Southern Miss; Marcus Carroll, RB, Georgia State; Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State; Keon Coleman, WR, FSU; Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State; RJ Maryland, TE, SMU; Roderic Burns, WR, North Texas; Joshua Cephus, WR, UTSA; LaJohntay Wester, WR, FAU
Defensive Player of the Week: Trey Moore, EDGE, UTSA
Frank Harris’ return to the UTSA starting lineup after injury has rejuvenated the Roadrunners after a difficult start to life in the American Athletic Conference. However, while their dual-threat quarterback commands attention, defensive standout Trey Moore is brutalizing every team that stands in his way. After another eye-popping showing in Week 9, he earns national honors.
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Moore was unstoppable in UTSA’s 41-27 win over East Carolina, their fifth win of the year. Leading the team with seven total tackles, Moore spent the afternoon in the Pirates backfield, tallying three sacks and three tackles for loss. In addition to asserting himself as one of college football’s top players, the relentless pass rusher set the UTSA single-season sack record.
Honorable mentions: Edgerrin Cooper, EDGE, Texas A&M; Tykee Smith, DB, Georgia; Payton Wilson, LB, NC State; Marques Watson-Trent, LB, Georgia Southern; Travis Hunter, DB, Colorado; J-Rock Swain, EDGE; Jacksonville State; Aidan Hubbard, EDGE, Northwestern; Beanie Bishop Jr., DB, West Virginia; Xavier Watts, DB, Notre Dame; Jalen Green, EDGE, James Madison; Marshawn Kneeland, DL, Western Michigan
Special Teams Player of the Week: Buzz Flabiano, K, UTEP
UTEP Miners kicker Buzz Flabiano has an awesome name, but more than that; he’s a game-winning kicker with ice in his veins and power in his legs. The Miners moved to 3-6 on Wednesday night behind their field goal kicker, breaking the hearts of a Sam Houston team who’d looked like they would secure the first FBS win of the season as CUSA wrapped up their midweek residency.
Against a noticeable crosswind in the late night Huntsville air, Flabiano nailed a 32-yard field goal to give UTEP a walk-off 37-34 win and earn his spot amongst the college football top players for Week 9. It was the first game-winning kick of the redshirt freshman’s college football career. Meanwhile, he was perfect on the evening, hitting three field goals and four extra points.
Honorable mentions: Chris Tyree, PR, Notre Dame; Tristan Alvano, K, Nebraska; Alejandro Mata, K, Colorado; Andres Borregales, K, Miami (FL); Ryan Sanborn, P, Texas
Freshman Player of the Week: Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
We’re going to need to see a copy of his birth certificate because Reuben Bain Jr. looks like a man among boys for the Miami Hurricanes right now. For the second consecutive week, the true freshman edge player asserted his dominance on the Hurricanes’ opponents, tallying two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 29-26 overtime win against Virginia that books a spot in bowl season.
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The four-star recruit out of Miami Central was the 10th-ranked edge in this year’s class, but there hasn’t been a pass rusher to make their presence felt like Bain has in 2023. His explosive athleticism combined with a relentless motor makes him a difficult proposition for any offensive linemen to contend with, and Virginia simply didn’t have an answer for him Saturday,
Honorable mentions: Kevin Concepcion, WR, NC State; Eugene “Tre” Wilson III, WR, Florida; Tristan Alvano, K, Nebraska; Jaheim White, RB, West Virginia; Blake Purchase, EDGE, Oregon; Kam Robinson, LB, Virginia