Week 1 of the 2024 college football season gave starved fans five straight days of action to feast on. Sure, there was a substantial amount of FBS vs. FCS blowouts, but the excitement never waned.
With a 96-game slate, the options for the College Football Players of the Week were bountiful.
College Football Players of the Week | Week 1
Quarterback of the Week: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
North Dakota State gave Colorado all it could handle in Week 1, but Shedeur Sanders led the Buffaloes to a narrow 31-26 victory. Completing 26 of 34 passes for 445 yards (the most since his 510 yards against TCU last season opener), four touchdowns, and one interception (on a tipped pass near the end zone), Sanders was the offense, as the Buffs gained a paltry 59 yards on the ground.
While the lack of a running game forced the passing attack to carry the load, Sanders had no issue dotting up the field, especially over the middle. Yet, what really stood out from his performance was Sanders’ poise under pressure and in the face of big hits, as the offensive line’s struggles carried over from last season.
Honorable mentions: Cam Ward, Miami; Joey Labas, Central Michigan; Taylen Green, Arkansas; Cameron Rising, Utah; Kirk Francis, Tulsa; Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee; Hudson Card, Purdue; Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt; Ethan Hampton, Northern Illinois; Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati; John Mateer, Washington State; Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss; Behren Morton, Texas Tech; Noah Fifita Arizona.
Offensive Players of the Week: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State, and Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Ashton Jeanty literally carried Boise State on his back, powering the Broncos to a 56-45 win over Georgia Southern.
Typically, a score like that would indicate outrageous passing numbers.
Yet, Jeanty isn’t your typical player, as he took 20 carries for 267 yards and a program-record six TDs, unleashing his will on the poor Eagles defenders that stood in his path toward the end zone.
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If this were a normal week, Jeanty would be the sole Offensive Player of the Week recipient. But this is no normal week.
Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan tortured New Mexico’s secondary all night, setting the Wildcats’ single-game receiving yards record (304) and tying Jacob Cowing’s record with four receiving TDs. The 6’5″ skywalker outleapt, outran, and outmuscled defenders, making highlight-reel plays look routine.
Although 13 weeks remain in the regular season, it’s unlikely we’ll witness another offensive display as spectacular as those from Jeanty and McMillan, especially in the same week, let alone on the same day.
Honorable mentions: Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers; Kevin Concepcion, WR, NC State; Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest; Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State; Terion Stewart, RB, Bowling Green; RJ Harvey, RB, UCF; Jordan Waters, RB, NC State; Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee; Harrison Wallace III, WR, Penn State; Anthony Tyus III, RB, Ohio; Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss; Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona; Marquez Cooper, RB, San Diego State.
Flex Player of the Week: Travis Hunter, WR, Colorado
It’s only right for a Colorado pass catcher to make the list with Sanders. And while some may give the nod to Jimmy Horn Jr. after he exploded for 198 yards and a score on seven catches, two-way superstar Travis Hunter forced us to create a whole new award.
Not only did Hunter catch seven of his nine targets for 132 yards and three TDs, but he had his Heisman moment — and an early Catch of the Year candidate — with a 3-yard end zone grab that effectively put the game out of reach and sparked a social media frenzy.
Making his showing even more monumental was the fact he also played nearly every defensive snap at outside corner, racking up three solo tackles and allowing practically nothing into his coverage.
Defensive Player of the Week: Tyler Baron, EDGE, Miami
With defensive players, it’s important not to stat watch. Interceptions and sacks are not created equal, and some plays don’t result in a number on the box score.
Case No. 1: Tyler Baron.
Baron recorded only three tackles, one sack, and one other TFL against Florida, but for those who watched the game, you know he was much more impactful.
Star true sophomore Rueben Bain Jr. went down on the first series and did not return, putting more pressure on Baron to produce off the edge.
The Tennessee — and, for a moment, Louisville — transfer gave the Gators’ offensive linemen all they could handle, showcasing several pass-rush moves, including a dip-and-rip and a spin. Baron’s combination of raw power, bend, and length is already a handful, but his motor and arsenal of moves make him an early NFL Draft prospect.
Honorable mentions: Peter Manuma, DB, Hawaii; Rayshawn Pleasant, DB, Tulane; Shaun Dolac, LB, Buffalo; Jahvaree Ritzie, DL, North Carolina; Nick Andersen, DB, Wake Forest; Anthony Hawkins, DT, Bowling Green; Taniela Latu, LB, San Jose State; Stephen Hall, DB, Washington State; Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State; Angelo Grose, S, Michigan State; Justin Jefferson, DT, Eastern Michigan; Jalen Catalon, S, UNLV; Will Johnson, CB, Michigan.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Justin Pegues, KR, Bowling Green
There were a handful of players that scored touchdowns on punt or kick returns, but Justin Pegues gets the nod for when he scored. Pegues took the opening kickoff of the game 100 yards for the TD, setting the tone for Bowling Green’s victory over Fordham.
But the Tennessee Tech transfer wasn’t done there, taking another kickoff 23 yards, gaining 10 yards on his lone carry, and returning two punts for 16 yards.
Honorable mentions: Noah Burnette, K, North Carolina; Tyler Keltner, K, Oklahoma; Stephan Bracey, KR, Central Michigan; Taylor Morin, PR, Wake Forest; Kamdyn Benjamin, PR, Tulsa, Kam Shanks, PR, UAB; Lloyd Avant, KR, Tulsa; Donte Kent, PR, Central Michigan; Desmond Reid, PR, Pitt.
Freshman Player of the Week: Nate Frazier, RB, Georgia
There were several standout freshmen in Week 1, but none had a bigger impact than Nate Frazier. The four-star true freshman was thrust into the lineup with Florida transfer Trevor Etienne suspended.
Facing a loaded Clemson defense, Frazier took 11 carries for 83 yards and a score, adding one reception for 24 yards to boot. He used his dense 5’10”, 210-pound frame to maintain balance through contact and pick up tough yards, especially early in the game.
Frazier’s play earned recognition from his teammates, with star DB Malaki Starks calling him “special” and QB Carson Beck saying, “Obviously, he came here in the summer, so he’s only been in Athens for two, three months, which is crazy to me. But we have a lot of confidence in him.”
To Beck’s point, Frazier was not one of Georgia’s 22 early enrollees this spring, making his Week 1 performance all the more impressive.
Honorable mentions: Ahmad Hardy, RB, UL-Monroe; Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State; Kelvin Hill, CB, UAB; Dallas Vakalahi, DL, Utah; Joe Barna, LB, Illinois; Jaion Jackson, CB, Central Michigan; Antwan Raymond, RB, Rutgers; Arch Manning, QB, Texas; Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama.
FCS Player of the Week: Maverick McIvor, QB, Abilene Christian
What. A. Game.
Abilene Christian took Texas Tech to overtime and went for the two-point conversion to win it. Unfortunately, a poor play call ended the game in 52-51 loss, but Maverick McIvor went toe-to-toe with a Power Four program and was unfazed.
A third-year starter for the Wildcats, McIvor completed 36 of 51 attempts for 506 yards and three TDs, using his right arm to keep his squad in the game. The Red Raiders couldn’t stop him, even when they forced Abilene Christian to abandon the run and held the ground game to 3.1 yards per carry.
Texas Tech has yet to lose to an FCS opponent, but McIvor made the players, coaches, and fanbase sweat like never before.
Honorable mentions: Sam Vidlak, QB, SFA; Elton Chism III, WR, EWU; Charles Pierre Jr., RB, South Dakota; Kekoa Visperas, QB, Eastern Washington; Payton Brown, RB, SEMO; AJ Colombo, WR, Western Carolina; Elijah Tau-Tolliver, RB, Sac State; Griffin Wilde, WR, South Dakota State; Devontae Houston, RB, ETSU; Jaylen Bonelli, WR, Wagner; Walker Harris, EDGE, Southern Utah; ShunDerrick Powell, RB, Central Arkansas; DJ Williams, QB, Southern Illinois.
HBCU Player of the Week: Kenji Christian, RB, North Carolina A&T
North Carolina A&T didn’t come close to upsetting Wake Forest, but Kenji Christian did all he could to keep his team in the game. The 6’2″ and 207-pound RB proved difficult to bring down, breaking multiple tackles and churning through yards after contact.
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Christian finished the game with 121 yards and one TD on 16 carriers, doing most of the work himself as the offensive line didn’t generate much push up front.
And it’s not as if most of Christian’s yardage came on one run, as six of his attempts went for 10+ yards, and two more gained 9 yards.
Honorable mentions: Matt Noll, P, Jackson State; Andrew Brown, K, North Carolina A&T; Markel McLaurin, DB, Alcorn State; Malachi Bailey, EDGE, Alcorn State; Robert Jones III, CB, Howard; Geoffrey McKelton, S, Alcorn State; Kenny Gallop Jr., DB, Howard; Shemar Savage, WR, Praire View A&M.
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