Contrary to prior belief, Week 3 was set up for some exciting action and terrific matchups nationwide. The Week 3 College Football Team of the Week features the top athletes from all of those top games from every corner of the country.
Week 3 was no dud, folks, and you should never believe anyone if they say a college football weekend will be boring.
Week 3 College Football Team of the Week | First Team
It’s important to note that the CFN Week 3 College Football Team of the Week awards players based on their impact in their respective games and is not necessarily based on total statistical output.
The strength of competition is accounted for, as is the situation — both time of the game and score. These individual awards are also solely based on a player’s ability on the field and does not look into any future beyond college football.
Quarterback: Kaidon Salter, Liberty
It was a lights-out performance from Kaidon Salter to start the Saturday slate of games. The Liberty Flames QB accounted for six total touchdowns and couldn’t be stopped against Buffalo.
Completing 16-o-26 passes for 344 yards, Salter threw five touchdowns to four different receivers and was brilliant to every level of the field. Salter also rushed for 66 yards and another score, adding a dynamic element to this offense that has caught steam under new head coach Jamey Chadwell.
Running Back: Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights needed just 46 yards to blow out the Virginia Tech Hokies. That was mainly due to the fact that Kyle Monangai and Rutgers ran all over the Hokies on Saturday afternoon.
Monangai averaged a whopping 8.9 yards per attempt and scored three touchdowns on the ground. He finished the day with 16 carries for 143 yards as he found success through the tackles and outside against Tech.
Running Back: Trevor Etienne, Florida
What a performance it was for the rushing attack of the Florida Gators. Led by Trevor Etienne, the Gators upended their rival Tennessee Volunteers and Etienne was the star of the show.
Etienne torched the Vols’ defense to the tune of 172 yards on 23 carries and a score, but that hardly tells the whole story. He was brutally strong at the point of contact, hardly went down on the first hit, and broke a multitude of would-be tackles during a physically imposing night.
Wide Receiver: Malik Nabers, LSU
Perhaps no more dominant of performance has been seen this season than what Malik Nabers did against Mississippi State for the LSU Tigers. Nabers went off for 239 yards on 13 receptions and two touchdowns.
He found himself open at every level, dominating any type of coverage in front of him. Nabers showcased speed, separation, his full route tree, hands, and an all-around elite skill set in a ridiculous showing.
Wide Receiver: Nic Anderson, Oklahoma
In the blowout of Tulsa, the world was welcomed to Nic Anderson show in Norman. Anderson hauled in three receptions, all three of which went for scores, as he eclipsed 100 yards easily.
The Oklahoma WR was quick, nimble, and proved to be a terrific after-the-catch threat. Anderson hauled in two touchdown receptions from Dillon Gabriel and another from Jackson Arnold as he appears poised to be the future at the position for the Sooners.
Wide Receiver: Robert Lewis, Georgia State
Robert Lewis was on the receiving end of one of the longest plays from scrimmage this season, ripping off a 97-yard touchdown reception against Charlotte that set the tone for the Georgia State Panthers performance.
Darren Grainger hit Lewis one more time for a score and four more times all over the field as Lewis recorded 220 yards on six receptions with those two touchdowns. Lewis was unstoppable all over the field, and the Panthers fly into Sun Belt play on the heels of their dynamic duo.
Tight End: Dallin Holker, Colorado State
What a performance it was from the entire Colorado State Rams team, but most noticeably, their go-to man on offense. Dallin Holker dominated in the second half against archrival Colorado, hauling in a miraculous touchdown where he somehow caught a pass at his ankles, didn’t break his stride, and ran past the Colorado defense.
Holker finished the game with six receptions and 109 yards, with two scores on the evening. It didn’t go their way in the end, but Holker put his name on the national radar.
Flex Offense: La’Damian Webb, South Alabama
Going into hostile territory and dominating, the South Alabama Jaguars were paced by their talented running back, La’Damian Webb. Handling the rock 18 times on the ground, Webb gained 151 yards and scored two touchdowns.
He opened his scoring night with a beautiful bounce cut to the outside before he sped past Oklahoma State Cowboys defenders. Webb then put the proverbial dagger with a 65-yard touchdown run that saw him blow through a big hole in his offensive line and sprint past the defense.
Travis Hunter Award: DJ Lundy, Florida State
Without the services of DJ Lundy, the game might have gone the other way for the Florida State Seminoles. Lundy notched an impressive interception in coverage and punched a one-yard touchdown run in on offense.
It was a vintage linebacking performance for Lundy as he was one of the lone bright spots for the Seminoles’ defense in their close-fought victory over Boston College.
Offensive Tackle: Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
What a performance it was by the whole BYU team, both sides of the ball. In a night with multiple highlights, it was Kingsley Suamataia who provided a massive spark in the first quarter that sprung some life back into the Cougars.
Suamataia came across the formation on a carry by LJ Martin, paving the way off the edge for a long touchdown run. He was terrific throughout the game, with multiple highlight-reel blocks on the ground and a clean pocket more often than not in pass protection.
Offensive Guard: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes were dominant against Western Kentucky on Saturday. That included their trench play, and specifically the play of Donovan Jackson on the inside of their offensive line.
Jackson was stout in pass protection and perhaps better than ever with his work on the ground. While TreVeyon Henderson returned to form at running back, it was Jackson who provided multiple high-level blocks to spring Henderson.
Center: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
A vintage offensive line performance from the Oregon Ducks highlighted the Pac-12 slate this weekend. Jackson Powers-Johnson paced the Ducks’ offensive line as the big man at center was a man on a mission in each facet.
Powers-Johnson moved incredibly well, notably on the second touchdown pass from Bo Nix to Tez Johnson, where he sped to the boundary and paved the way for a screen pass touchdown. It was a masterful performance.
Offensive Guard: Micah Mazzccua, Florida
Finally the Micah Mazzccua we all knew could dominate at the point of attack showed up for the Gators. Mazzccuaa helped pave the way to a commanding victory over Tennessee as he was equally impressive in both facets.
He was especially terrific at controlling the line of scrimmage and moving to the second level in the run game as Mazzccua was integral in Florida’s dominant rushing performance.
Offensive Tackle: Jake Hornibrook, Duke
The Duke Blue Devils manhandled the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Jake Hornibrook was a monster for Duke, blowing the Wildcats defenders off the ball in pass protection and clearing huge lanes for the Blue Devils’ runners with ease.
Graham Barton got the preseason hype on the Blue Devils’ line, but Hornibrook has more than proven his own this season.
EDGE: Mohamad Kamara, Colorado State
Mohamad Kamara gave it everything he had on Saturday night, almost literally. Gassed and hurt, Kamara gave a performance for the ages, consistently pushing the offensive line and making Shedeur Sanders’ life in the pocket miserable.
When Kamara wasn’t in the lineup, it was evident as Colorado finally moved the football. If Kamara was on the field, you can bet he was chasing down running backs, pressuring Sanders, or impacting the Buffaloes’ offense one way or another.
Despite a targeting penalty in overtime, Kamara was the thorn in Colorado’s side all night long.
Defensive Interior: Rodney Matthews, Ohio
A hard-fought battle against Big 12 foe Iowa State, the Ohio Bobcats grabbed a marque victory as they continued to show their defensive prowess. Rodney Matthews plugged up multiple run plays against Iowa State, changing the point of attack himself.
He was gifted with an interception as well after he nabbed a tipped ball out of the air and brought it in. Matthews led the charge that picked off Iowa State QB Rocco Becht twice and limited the Cyclones to just 38 yards rushing.
Defensive Interior: Judge Culpepper, Toledo
What a performance it was for the Toledo Rockets‘ defense as Chris McDonald secured a pick-six and interior defender Judge Culpepper flat-out dominated. Culpepper recorded two sacks on San Jose State QB Chevan Cordeiro, a feat in and of itself due to Cordeiro’s dual-threat ability.
Culpepper also had a handful of other pressures as he single-handedly changed the game for the Spartans’ offense.
EDGE: Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest
With their offense struggling, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons counted on their defense in Week 3. Jasheen Davis led the Deacs defense that sacked Old Dominion QB Grant Wilson a whopping 10 times.
Davis recorded three sacks as he was unblockable on the edge. He was quick and fast with his pass rushes, just as he was strong and powerful. Davis put a masterful pass rush performance on paper as this defense continues to improve as they prepare for ACC play.
Linebacker: Power Echols, North Carolina
The linebacker corps for the North Carolina Tar Heels is making a strong case to be known as the best in the country. Power Echols lands on the Team of the Week after patrolling the middle of the field brilliantly.
Echols led the team with nine tackles, seven of which were solo stops, and an interception. He was a force in run defense, as we’ve come to expect, but he also made some terrific plays in coverage that helped limit the Minnesota passing attack to just 133 yards through the air.
Linebacker: Bryce Houston, Ohio
We saw a stellar performance from Bryce Houston, one of the freakiest athletes on the field for Ohio. Houston was in on essentially every play for the Bobcats, racking up 15 total tackles and multiple plays in coverage.
His strength is unmatched at the point of attack and Houston flashed his terrific read-and-react ability to get downhill in the run game. Houston helped lead the Ohio defense’s charge that limited Iowa State to just 38 yards on the ground in the upset win for OU.
Linebacker: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
It was a quick afternoon for Danny Stutsman, yet he still left a remarkable performance on the field against Tulsa. Stutsman led the team with nine tackles, including two tackles for loss, and his 30-yard interception return for a touchdown all but incited the rout.
Cornerback: LaMareon James, Old Dominion
Scoring more than his offense, LaMareon James almost single-handedly upset Wake Forest on Saturday. James recorded two defensive touchdowns on the afternoon and was a menace to the Wake Forest offense all afternoon.
James scooped up a loose ball at the 20-yard line and rallied down the field for an 80-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the second quarter that helped give Old Dominion a three-possession lead at halftime.
He then grabbed a 66-yard interception midway through the third quarter that saw him shimmy and shake his way down the field and push the lead back up to three possessions. A terrific defensive performance was for not in the end, but James turned heads everywhere.
Cornerback: Jarrae Williams, UNLV
It just meant more for Jarrae Williams and the UNLV Rebels on Saturday night, knocking off SEC for Vanderbilt. Williams was part of a defense that recorded four takeaways on the night as Williams scooped up a loose ball that was squandered away from multiple players before he grabbed it and returned it 41 yards for a score.
His 41-yard scoop ‘n score tied the ball game at 17 points apiece as the teams went back and forth all night long. Williams finished the game with eight total tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, and his fumble recovery.
Safety: Josh Proctor, Ohio State
The Western Kentucky offense gets the ball out quickly and attacks the middle of the field better than most in the country. However, it was Josh Proctor who single-handedly disrupted the WKU offensive game plan with his prowess over the middle and everywhere in between.
Proctor was terrific in coverage, forcing incompletions at will and blanketing whoever he was tasked with covering. He finished with five total tackles but his impact was far greater than any statistic could ever show as he forced WKU QB Austin Reed to his second or third read on multiple occasions.
Safety: Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Badgers were a defensive unit on a mission on Saturday. They created six turnovers against Georgia Southern, including five interceptions of Eagles QB Davis Brin.
Hunter Wohler not only led all tacklers on the day with 10 stops, he picked off two of those five interceptions and patrolled the middle of the field perfectly. He led a vintage performance from the Wisconsin defense.
Defensive Back: Daquan Evans, USF
The USF Bulls almost did the unthinkable and upset Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide in a nonconference game. Daquan Evans was a big reason why as he consistently gave the Tide fits on defense.
Playing a near-hybrid position in the nickel, Evans’ biggest impact came with his perfectly timed blitzes. Evans recorded three sacks on those blitzes, but he was nearly as impressive in space. USF almost recorded the upset but Evans’ performance was worthy of national notoriety nonetheless.
Defensive Back: Shilo Sanders, Colorado
Sparking the Colorado Buffaloes on more than one occasion, it was Shilo Sanders who kept the Buffs in it against Colorado State more than once. Sanders recorded the game’s first points with an 80-yard interception returned for a touchdown.
That paced the Buffs, who started slowly on offense. In the second half, Sanders also knocked a fumble free from TE Dallin Holker as he did everything he could to keep the Buffs in the game.
Flex Defense: Tyren Dupree, Liberty
A strong offensive showing led way to Buffalo having to force the ball against Liberty. Johnny-on-the-spot more often than not, Tyren Dupree made the Bulls pay for forcing throws into tight windows and came away with two picks on the afternoon.
Dupree also led the team with seven tackles, six of which were solo stops as Dupree flew around the field with precision.
Kicker: Harrison Mevis, Missouri
Knocking home a 61-yard game-winning field goal makes you a shoo-in for the kicker spot here on our Team of the Week. Harrison Mevis drilled the game-winning 61-yard field goal for Missouri as they upset the Kansas State Wildcats.
Mevis finished the day 6-of-7 on all kicks, including 3-of-4 on field goals. It was his 61-yarder, though, that sent the crowd at Memorial Stadium flooding onto Faurot Field.
Punter: Jared Wheatley, Ohio
You don’t upset a Power Five opponent without a complete game from all facets as a Group of Five team. That includes your special teams unit and that’s exactly what Ohio got from Jared Wheatley.
Drilling three of his six punts inside the Iowa State 20-yard line, Wheatley was a constant field-flipper in a game of field position.
Kick Returner: Matthew Golden, Houston
For the third time this season, the Houston Cougars started off sluggishly on offense. And this week, they never seemed to find their groove against TCU.
In fact, Matthew Golden’s 98-yard kick return for a touchdown was the Cougars’ only touchdown of the night in a disappointing loss to the Horned Frogs.
Punt Returner: Isaiah Sategna, Arkansas
A hot start for the Arkansas Razorbacks saw them jump out to a 14-0 lead over BYU on Saturday. Isaiah Sategna got in on the fun with a beautiful 88-yard kick return that was set up brilliantly by the Razorbacks’ punt unit.
He was dynamic with the ball in his hands and totaled nearly 150 yards of all-purpose yards in a hard-fought loss to the Cougars.
Week 3 College Football Team of the Week | Second Team
Offense
- QB: Jayden Daniels, LSU | Michael Penix Jr., Washington
- RB: Joquez Smith, Temple
- RB: Audric Estime, Notre Dame
- WR: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
- WR: Luther Burden II, Missouri
- WR: Tory Horton, Colorado State
- TE: Michael Harrison, Colorado
- FLEX: Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
- OT: Xavior Gray, Liberty
- G: Prince Pines, Tulane
- C: Jake Levengood, Oregon State
- G: Trevor Keegan, Michigan
- OT: Talise Fuaga, Oregon State
Defense
- EDGE: Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington
- EDGE: Byron Vaughns, Baylor
- IDL: Byron Murphy II, Texas
- IDL: Jamie Sheriff, South Alabama
- LB: Jacob Roberts, Wake Forest
- LB: Lander Barton, Utah
- LB: Aaron Casey, Indiana
- DB: Tobias Fletcher, Coastal Carolina
- DB: Devyn Coles, James Madison
- DB: Carlton Johnson, Fresno State
- DB: Tarheeb Still, Maryland
- DB: Malik Dunlap, Texas Tech
- FLEX: Andrew Chatfield Jr., Oregon State
Special Teams
- K: Jose Pizano, UNLV
- P: James Burnip, Alabama
- KR: Braeden Wisloski, Maryland
- PR: Henry Rutledge, Charlotte
Week 3 College Football Team of the Week | Third Team
Offense
- QB: Darren Grainger, Georgia State | Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
- RB: Marquez Cooper, Ball State
- RB: Nate Noel, Appalachian State
- WR: Caullin Lacy, South Alabama
- WR: Eric McAlister, Boise State
- WR: Rome Odunze, Washington
- TE: Mason Tharp, Texas Tech
- FLEX: Jamari Thrash, Louisville
- OT: Myles Hinton, Michigan
- G: Marcus Harper II, Oregon
- C: Drake Nugent, Michigan
- G: Brady Latham, Arkansas
- OT: Cameron Wire, Tulane
Defense
- EDGE: Kwame Sutton, Ohio
- EDGE: Mazin Richards, North Texas
- DL: Brock Higdon, South Alabama
- DL: Tommy Ziesmer, Kentucky
- LB: Cameron Whitfield, Louisiana
- LB: Cedric Gray, North Carolina
- LB: Steele Chambers, Ohio State
- DB: Ricardo Hallman, Wisconsin
- DB: Robert Kennedy, NC State
- DB: Johnny Dixon, Penn State
- DB: Jaelen Stokes, USF
- DB: Bennett Walker, Eastern Michigan
- FLEX: Cameron Oliver, UNLV
Special Teams
- K: Camden Lewis, Oregon
- P: Jack Blumer, Kansas State
- KR: Julian Gray, NC State
- PR: Jalen Coit, NC State
Week 3 College Football Team of the Week | Honorable Mention
Offense
- QB: Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma
- RB: Gavin Garcia, Kent State
- RB: Ayo Adeyi, North Texas
- RB: Emmanuel Michel, Air Force
- WR: Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington
- WR: Jalil Farooq, Oklahoma
- WR: Nate McCollum, North Carolina
- WR: Ricky White, UNLV
- TE: Corey Dyches, Maryland
- FLEX: Blake Watson, Memphis
- OT: Bless Harris, Florida State
- OG: Andrew Cannon, Colorado State
- C: Nathan Boe, Minnesota
- OG: Dontae Lucas, South Alabama
- OT: Josh Simmons, Ohio State
Defense
- DL: Sabastian Harsh, Wyoming
- DL: Terry Lockett, Syracuse
- DL: Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
- DL: Patrick Jenkins, Tulane
- LB: Johnny Hodges, TCU
- LB: Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin
- LB: Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
- LB: Alec Mock, Air Force
- LB: Daniel Green, Kansas State
- DB: Martel Hight, Vanderbilt
- DB: Jack Henderson, Minnesota
- DB: Omari Philyaw, Appalachian State
- DB: Tyler ‘Red’ Potts, Ball State
- DB: Nate Wiggins, Clemson
- DB: Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green
- DB: Chris McDonald, Toledo
- DB: Malachi Moore, Alabama
- FLEX: Carl Glass Jr., UL-Monroe
Special Teams
- K: Camden Wise, James Madison
- P: Ryan Rehkow, BYU
- KR: Parker Kingston, BYU
- PR: Cooper DeJean, Iowa