College Football’s fastest players typically dominate the action on Saturdays. They put their speed to the test and flash their athletic ability against top-tier competition weekly.
Here are the fastest players we saw from Week 2 of the 2024 season.
College Football’s Fastest: Week 2
Take a look at the fastest players from each week during the 2024 season: Preseason | Week 1
Courtesy of our friends at Reel Analytics, the fastest ball carriers are tracked from every game across the country. To find out more about RA and how they track their data, find them here: RAnalytics on Twitter | Reel Analytics via NetCapital
6) Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson: 20.6 mph
Early in Clemson’s beat down of Appalachian State, Phil Mafah broke free. It was just a simple 3rd & 1 carry, but the rest is now history.
It was just 14-0 at the time, but after Mafah hit 20.6 mph on this touchdown run of 83 yards, this game was flat-out over.
🤯 @PhilMafah1 from @ClemsonFB hit 20.6mph on this clean TD run 🔥🔥
Will he join the top 5 fastest CFB player list this week??🤔#cfb #football #clemson #speed pic.twitter.com/aoilhAWR1K
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 8, 2024
Mafah split the defenders, burst through the second level, and turned on the jets. In the end, Mafah only need 10 carries to reach 118 yards and this touchdown as most of the Clemson starters were pulled before halftime.
T4) Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa: 21.2 mph
Like his running mate tied here at fourth fastest in Week 2, Kaleb Johnson quite literally did everything to keep his team in their respective games. Johnson was the Iowa offense in their hard-fought loss to rival Iowa State in Week 2, totaling 187 yards of the team’s 204 rushing yards and chipping in with nine of the team’s 99 yards through the air.
Johnson got the scoring started in their Week 2 battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy by taking this first-down carry the distance, going 27 yards and reaching 21.2 mph in the process.
#CFB’s Fastest Five Players of Week 2:
T4. @HawkeyeFootball’s Kaleb Johnson
RB, 27-yard TD Run 🪶 21.2 MPH ⚡️@Kj_Superman2 #Hawkeyes #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/B3x8uWaVjD
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 9, 2024
Johnson has been a revelation for an Iowa offense that seems to have reverted back to the mean in Week 2. If they can ride Johnson through their Big Ten schedule, his speed and athleticism may be able to make even more waves.
T4) Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State: 21.2 mph
Boise State gave Oregon a scare on Saturday night, forcing the Ducks to go all four quarters with the Mountain West favorite. Ashton Jeanty was integral in their success against their Big Ten foe, earning CFN First-Team Honors on our Team of the Week.
Jeanty scored three touchdowns, none more impressive than a game-tying score in the fourth quarter that saw him go 70 yards and reach a whopping 21.2 miles per hour in just 4.9 seconds.
#CFB’s Fastest Five Players of Week 2:
T4. @BroncoSportsFB’s Ashton Jeanty
RB, 70-yard TD Run 🐴 21.2 MPH 💨 @AshtonJeanty2 #BleedBlue #HEI2MAN pic.twitter.com/eG5cUTQPjU
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 9, 2024
Jeanty, a First-Team All-American by us at CFN as well, recorded 192 yards on 25 carries, averaging 7.7 yards per rush against Oregon’s stout defense. Through two weeks of the season, Jeanty has scored nine touchdowns and rushed for 459 yards at 10.2 yards per run.
If those aren’t Heisman numbers, we don’t know what is.
3) Desmond Reid, RB, North Carolina: 21.4 mph
Talk about making a splash in your first season at the FBS level. Desmond Reid transferred to Pittsburgh as an unheralded FCS transfer, and few knew his name.
It’s safe to say now that the rest of the nation is aware of Reid’s abilities. Bringing the Panthers back to within two points on this 56-yard touchdown run, Reid reached 21.4 mph, leaving Cincinnati defenders behind him in his path.
#CFB’s Fastest Five Players of Week 2:
3. @Pitt_FB’s Desmond Reid
RB, 56-yard TD Run 🏠📞 21.4 MPH 💨@fastboidez #H2P #WeNotMe #ProveIt pic.twitter.com/L02LmiiA4B
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 9, 2024
Reid totaled over 100 yards in both the ground game and the passing game. In just two games through the 2024 season, Reid scored touchdowns on the ground, through the air, and on special teams, lining himself up for Paul Hornung Award consideration.
2) Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State: 21.7 mph
In a terrific debut, Jeremiah Smith has left no doubts behind in terms of his overall ability. Living up to, if not exceeding, lofty recruiting platform as the No. 1 overall player entering college this season, Smith has exploded on the scene with Ohio State.
Smith took a simple hitch route the distance, 70 yards to boot, and torched the Western Michigan defense by reaching a whopping 21.7 mph.
#OhioState 🚀🚀 @Jermiah_Smith1 from @OhioStateFB hit 21.7mph on this 70-yard score!! 💨💨#GoBucks #OhioState #CFB #speed pic.twitter.com/yS4tulwWOp
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 8, 2024
Standing 6’3″ and 215 pounds, to run this fast, Smith is truly in rarified air and destined for greatness in Columbus. In just two games, Smith has recorded 211 yards and three touchdowns early in his career.
1) Bryant Wesco Jr., WR, Clemson: 21.9 mph
It was the first touchdown in an onslaught of first-quarter touchdowns from the Clemson offense that really put the game away as early as possible for the Tigers. And it was Bryant Wesco Jr. who started the high-scoring affair brilliantly.
A switch release skinny post saw Wesco easily defeat his defender with speed and Cade Klubnik hit him in stride. Wesco’s stride saw him then reach a top speed of 21.9 mph on his way to a 76-yard touchdown.
#CFB‘s Fastest Five Players Of Week 2:
1. @ClemsonFB‘s Bryant Wesco Jr.
WR, 76-yard 👉🏠 21.9 MPH 🤯@Bryantwesco19 #Clemson #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/tR87Fjp516
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 9, 2024
Wesco and the Tigers ran over App State in the process as their emerging star at wide receiver earned title of “fastest player from Week 2” in the process.
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