National College Football Player of the Week for Week 9
Cooper Legas from Tulsa has earned recognition as the national player of the week in college football for Week 9 after delivering an impressive performance. The backup quarterback passed for a remarkable 333 yards and five touchdowns, orchestrating a comeback victory over UTSA with a final score of 46-45, despite being down by 28 points at halftime.
Legas, who is a graduate transfer from Utah State, took over the starting role midway through the second quarter, stepping in for Kirk Francis. His first notable play came with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Bill Jackson, igniting the Hurricane’s momentum. Even while trailing 42-17 late in the third, Legas threw a 74-yard touchdown to Kamdyn Benjamin, marking the beginning of four second-half touchdowns that turned the tide for Tulsa. His other notable touchdown passes included a 4-yard completion to Viron Ellison Jr. and two touchdowns—20 yards and 4 yards— to Benjamin, with the latter delivering a critical lead for the Hurricane with just over a minute to spare.
In addition to his passing success, Legas contributed on the ground with a team-leading 46 yards across 13 carries, showcasing a standout 33-yard run that set up a crucial field goal during the third quarter.
Runner-Up
Marcel Reed, a freshman quarterback for Texas A&M, also made headlines as he stepped in for an ineffective Conner Weigman during a 38-23 victory over LSU. Reed became the first Aggies quarterback in 15 years to score three touchdowns in a single game. He showcased his versatility by running for nine times and gaining 62 yards, scoring TDs with runs of 8, 8, and 4 yards, while also completing 2 of 2 passes for 70 yards.
Reed had previously started three consecutive games when Weigman was sidelined due to injury and had minimal involvement during the games against Missouri and Mississippi State before his call to action against LSU.
Notable Performances
Several players also received honorable mentions for their outstanding outings. Colorado’s dual-threat player Travis Hunter had a remarkable game with nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns, alongside two tackles and four pass breakups in a solid 34-23 victory over Cincinnati. Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter delivered a powerful performance with a career-high of 278 rushing yards on 23 carries along with a pair of touchdowns in a decisive 24-10 win at Kentucky.
Likewise, Suntarine Perkins from Mississippi turned in a standout defensive performance with four sacks, contributing to a career-high total of five tackles for loss during a 26-14 matchup against Oklahoma. His four sacks represented a significant achievement, marking the most for an Ole Miss player since 1993.
Six Noteworthy Stats
Several intriguing statistics emerged over the weekend:
– SMU’s thrilling overtime win against Duke marked the first time in 13 years a team has won after committing six turnovers without any takeaways, a feat last accomplished by Marshall in 2011.
– Vanderbilt’s losses this season have been incredibly narrow, with a total point differential of just 10, showcasing significant improvement from last year’s ten losses, of which only one was within 16 points.
– East Carolina celebrated its highest point total since a high-scoring contest in 2014, with a strong 56-34 victory against Temple.
– Boise State leads the nation with 35 sacks after just seven contests, just shy of their entire total from the previous 14 games.
– Mississippi boasts the remarkable statistic of allowing only 26 points in the second half across eight games, the fewest in the country.
– Indiana achieved a defensive milestone in its recent game against Washington, not allowing a tackle for loss for the second time since 2005, and for the first time since 2013 against Navy.
The college football season continues with high expectations as teams and players vie for top honors. Stay tuned for further updates and insights throughout the upcoming weeks.