What a weekend of college football it was in Week 1 as our great sport made its triumphant return to action from Thursday to Monday. Across the five-day slate of action, there were plenty of highlights that also included college football’s fastest players back in action.
College Football’s Fastest: Week 1
Take a look at the fastest players from each week during the 2024 season: Preseason
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
T5) Kyson Brown, RB, Arizona State: 20.0 mph
Late in their Week 1 game against Wyoming, Arizona State fans got a glimpse of what the future looks like under head coach Kenny Dillingham. Up 41-0 in the third quarter, RB Kyson Brown took a screen pass the distance through the Wyoming defense.
Brown reached 20.0 mph on the play and gave a glimpse of what makes this ASU offense potentially dangerous in 2024.
#CFB‘s Fastest Five Players of Week 1:
T-5. @ASUFootball‘s Kyson Brown (@KysonBrown11)
RB, 68-yard TD, 20.0 MPH 💨
#ForksUp #ActivateTheValley #Big12FB pic.twitter.com/sV4fmk9Q9H— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 3, 2024
Brown recorded 98 yards on just eight total touches on offense as the sophomore looks to continue to break out this season.
T5) Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona: 20.0 mph
Well, Tetairoa McMillan isn’t human, that’s been confirmed after his Week 1 performance. If you stayed up late to check it out, McMillan went wild on the New Mexico secondary, but it wasn’t just his ball skills and overall athleticism that shined.
McMillan reached 20.0 mph on one touchdown and 19.4 mph on another in a dominant outing.
#CFB‘s Fastest Five Players of Week 1:
T-5. @ArizonaFBall‘s Tetairoa McMillan (@TMAC96795)@Big12Conference‘s Player of the Week 🌟 20 MPH 💨 #BearDown #Big12FB @ZonaZooOfficial @NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/0B22NFi6ka
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 3, 2024
It’s this kind of performance that makes the Wildcats and McMillan must-watch TV in 2024.
4) Will Johnson, CB, Michigan: 20.3 mph
Sheesh, what can’t Will Johnson do? Icing the game with his pure instincts in coverage, Johnson grabbed an interception off Fresno State QB Mikey Keene with just over four minutes left in the game, taking it back 85 yards for a pick-six to put it away for Michigan.
He reached 20.3 mph on the return as his closing speed and top speed were shown in one dominant moment.
#CFB‘s Fastest Five Players of Week 1:
4. @UMichFootball‘s Will Johnson (@Willj1228)
CB, 86-yard Pick 6 🔒 20.3 MPH 💨#GoBlue #B1GFootball #UofM @247Wolverine pic.twitter.com/9ByvRgPoK5
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 3, 2024
Johnson is absolutely a Heisman Trophy candidate as well as favorite to land the Thorpe Award, but it’s his athleticism, ball skills, and now his top speed that make him a highly-coveted first-round NFL Draft prospect.
3) Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado: 20.8 mph
Colorado was locked in a dogfight with North Dakota State all night long to open the season. Ultimately, the game went the way of the Buffaloes, thanks in large part to the efforts of Jimmy Horn Jr. and Shedeur Sanders.
On this 69-yard touchdown reception, Horn maxed out at 20.8 mph, impressively hitting that mark after making multiple defenders miss and speeding up the sidelines.
#CFB‘s Fastest Five Players of Week 1:
3.@CUBuffsFootball‘s Jimmy Horn Jr. (@Tooswiftj5)
WR, 69-yard TD 💥 20.8 MPH ⚡️ #GoBuffs @CUFBRecruit @pac12 @CUBarstool pic.twitter.com/KTQr1ZZnVv
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 3, 2024
Horn was dominant all game long and showed off more than just his speed by flashing his strong hands and route-running skills against NDSU.
2) Montrell Johnson, RB, Florida: 21.0 mph
Okay, so it wasn’t all bad for the Florida Gators on Saturday against Miami, but it certainly wasn’t all good. The minimal good came by way of their lone highlight of the first half: Montrell Johnson going the distance.
Johnson reached 21.0 mph on this touchdown run around the left side, a 71-yard highlight-reel-worthy moment.
#CFB‘s Fastest Five Players of Week 1:
2. @GatorsFB‘s Montrell Johnson (@Trellll_3)
RB, 71-yard TD Run 🐊 21.0 MPH 💨#GoGators @SECNetwork @Swamp_247 @UFBarstool pic.twitter.com/qz7F67rUIz
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 3, 2024
While that was the lone highlight for UF, it gave the Gators some hope for the rest of the season if they can ride Johnson’s legs through their SEC schedule.
1) Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State: 21.8 mph
Though we had to wait a bit to see it, the action in the second half of the Penn State-West Virginia game was well worth it. That included a terrific showing from the Nittany Lions offense that ultimately put the game away.
Taking a carry 40 yards for a touchdown, star RB Nick Singleton put the game on ice by hitting 21.9 mph en route to six points.
#CFB‘s Fastest Five Players of Week 1:
1. @PennStateFball‘s Nick Singleton (@NickSingletonn)
RB, 40-yard TD Run 🦁 21.8 MPH 👑 #WeAre #LawnBoyz @B1Gfootball @PSUBarstool pic.twitter.com/MlezHwNm02
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 3, 2024
Singleton’s run gave Penn State a 27-6 lead and earned him the title of fastest player from Week 1.
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