On paper, there weren’t many must-watch games on the Week 3 schedule, but this is college football — every game is must-watch TV. Missouri narrowly held off Boston College. Memphis handed Florida State its third straight L. Naturally, there was no shortage of eye-popping performances.
Without further ado, the Week 3 College Football Players of the Week.
College Football Players of the Week | Week 3
Quarterback of the Week: Tucker Gleason, Toledo
There were several standout QB performances this week, but none meant more than Tucker Gleason’s. Toledo rocketed out to a 2-0 start, but those victories came against FCS-level Duquesne and UMass.
Well, the Rockets put any concerns over the level of competition by completely undressing Mississippi State 41-17 in Week 3, marking their first win over an SEC program since 2015.
While the defense certainly did its part, Gleason was the clear MVP of the contest, completing a whopping 82% of his passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.
His numbers are even more impressive when you realize the ground game, where he contributed 40 yards, only averaged 3.8 yards per carry, putting more pressure on the passing attack to succeed.
Honorable mentions: Avery Johnson, Kansas State; Gio Lopez, South Alabama; Cam Ward, Miami; Dillon Gabriel, Oregon; Riley Leonard, Notre Dame; Jalen Milroe, Alabama; Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State; Behran Morton, Texas Tech; Kurtis Rourke, Indiana; Shedeur Sanders, Colorado; Caden Veltkamp, Western Kentucky; Eli Holstein, Pittsburgh.
Offensive Player of the Week: Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State
Over the first two games of the season, Nick Nash caught 17 passes for 260 yards and three TDs. Not bad, right?
He mirrored that stat line against Kennesaw State.
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Nash broke the Spartans’ single-game record with 17 receptions, finished fifth all-time with 225 receiving yards, and tied for first with three TDs, which he also did against USC last season.
Outside of Justin Lockhart (11-192-2 line on the year), Nash has been San Jose State’s entire passing offense, separating with ease and coming down with highlight-reel catches in the end zone. The QB-turned-WR has made his single-game mark; the single-season records are next.
Honorable mentions: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona; Tru Edwards, WR, Louisiana Tech; Darius Taylor, RB, Minnesota; Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina; Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan; Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois; De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Oklahoma State; Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State; Ja’Quinden Jackson, RB, Arkansas; Andrew Armstrong, WR, Arkansas; Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina; Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee; Omari Kelly, WR, MTSU.
Defensive Player of the Week: Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU
The Tigers entered Week 2 with a massive pass-rush problem, producing just two sacks in the first two games. Bradyn Swinson was the answer, sacking South Carolina QBs three times — and all three came at pivotal moments.
On 3rd-and-10 with the Gamecocks on LSU’s 35-yard line just before halftime, Swinson brought LaNorris Sellers down for a four-yard loss, effectively ending any hope of last-second points.
Then, on a 3rd-and-11 in the fourth quarter with South Carolina up 33-29, Swinson sacked backup QB Robby Ashford, forcing a fumble at the same time that LSU recovered. And last but certainly not least, the game-wrecker brought Ashford down one final time with under a minute left in the game, moving the ball back seven yards and killing time all at once.
Honorable mentions: Antwaun Powell-Ryland, DL, Virginia Tech; Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado; Amare Ferrell, DB, Indiana; Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina; Jermari Harris, DB, Iowa; Boubacar Traore, DL, Notre Dame; Charles Brantley, DB, Michigan State; Jalen Catalon, S, UNLV; Jackson Woodard, LB, UNLV; Shamari Simmons, DB, Arizona State; Jereme Robinson, DL, Kansas; Caden Fordham, LB, NC State; Shaun Dolac, LB, Buffalo; Cam Lockridge, CB, Fresno State; Kevin Swint, DL, Georgia State.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Devonte Ross, PR, Troy
Troy may have lost to Iowa, but don’t blame Devonte Ross. Not only did he give the Trojans their only lead of the game by returning a punt 77 yards to the house just before halftime, but he also took five catches for 142 yards and two more scores, creating his own fireworks.
Honorable mentions: Jamaal Pritchett, PR, South Alabama; Dylan Edwards, PR, Kansas State; Ethan Moczulski, K, Illinois; Maverick Gracio, DL, Pittsburgh; Josh Green, P, Oregon State; Blake Craig, K, Missouri; Mekhi Mews, PR, Houston; Paddy Turner, P, Colorado State; Brett Thorson, P, Georgia.
Freshman Player of the Week: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
When Quinn Ewers went down with what head coach Steve Sarkisian called a strained abdomen, Texas fans weren’t worried. In fact, they were excited because that meant the appearance of Texas’ highest-rated recruit of the last two decades: Arch Manning.
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Manning threw fuel on the excitement on his very first play — a 19-yard TD pass. But that was only the beginning, as on Texas’ next drive, he kept the ball himself for a 67-yard TD run. Manning finished the night going 9-of-12 for 223 yards and five total scores, showcasing the potential that has Longhorns fans buzzing about the future.
Honorable mentions: CJ Bailey, QB, NC State; Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama; Fluff Bothwell, RB, South Alabama; Dylan Stewart, DL, South Carolina; Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M; Kennedy Urlacher, LB, Notre Dame, Isaac Wilson, QB, Utah; Carter Nelson, WR, Nebraska; Ryan Wingo, WR, Texas; Caden Durham, RB, LSU; Micah Welch, RB, Colorado; DeSean Bishop, RB, Tennessee; Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska; Hank Brown, QB, Auburn.
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