Miami’s Malachi Toney and Cincinnati’s MJ Cannon Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 8 (Oct. 27)

/in , /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 24.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                               

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MALACHI TONEY, MIAMI

Sophomore, Wide Receiver, Liberty City, FL

The ACC Offensive Receiver of the Week, Malachi Toney set a Miami single-game record with 16 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the top-ranked Hurricanes’ 52-23 win over ACC-rival Pittsburgh.  Toney broke his own program record of 13 receptions (set in 2025).  He caught 12 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone, and finished the game with scoring receptions of 19, 53 and 11 yards.  His performance helped Miami improve to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in ACC play.

Notes: It is the second time this season that Toney has earned Player of Week honors (Week #1 – Sept. 8).  It is also the eighth time since 2004 that a Miami player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MJ CANNON, CINCINNATI

RS Senior, Defensive Back, Evanston, IL

Defensive back MJ Cannon led Cincinnati to a 37-24 win over eighth-ranked Texas Tech, with eight tackles, one forced fumble, one interception and one pass breakup.  The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, Cannon’s forced turnovers came on key drives, with a forced fumble to open the game and the interception to close the first half that set up the Bearcats for a touchdown.  With the win, the Bearcats improved to 5-2, 2-2 in the Big 12.

Notes: It is the third time since 2004 that a Cincinnati player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.  Cannon is the first defensive honoree since former Bearcat defensive end Jarell White on Nov. 15, 2020.

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins, Jr. and Kentucky’s Jordan Castell Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 7 (Oct. 20)

/in , /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 17.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                               

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MICHAEL HAWKINS JR., WEST VIRGINIA

RS Sophomore, Quarterback, Austin, TX

Michael Hawkins, Jr. became the first quarterback in West Virginia history to record 450+ passing yards (464) and 75+ rushing yards (77) in a game, leading the Mountaineers to a 45-42 victory over Big-12 rival Cincinnati.  Hawkins passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more as WVU improved to 4-3 (1-3 in Big 12).  Hawkins leads all FBS quarterbacks with 749 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

Notes: It is the second time this season that Hawkins has earned Player of Week honors (Week #3 – Sept. 22).  It is also the ninth time since 2004 that a West Virginia player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

JORDAN CASTELL, KENTUCKY

Senior, Safety, Orlando, FL

The SEC Defensive Player of the Week, Jordan Castell recorded nine tackles, two interceptions and one pass breakup as 15th-ranked Kentucky defeated Oklahoma, 21-13. Castell’s second interception was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter which gave the Wildcats an eight-point lead. With the win, Kentucky improved to 6-1, 4-1 in the SEC.

Notes: It is the fifth time since 2004 that a Kentucky player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.  Castell is the first defensive honoree since former Wildcat linebacker Jacquez Jones on Oct. 3, 2021).

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Utah State’s Asher Cunningham Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 6 (Oct. 13)

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 10.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                               

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

LANORRIS SELLERS, SOUTH CAROLINA

Senior, Quarterback, Florence, SC

The SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, LaNorris Sellers accounted for 299 yards of total offense and five touchdowns as the Gamecocks defeated 16th-ranked Florida, 38-19, on the road.  Sellers was 23-of-35 passing for 279 yards and four touchdowns and added 20 rushing yards and one score.   With the win, South Carolina improved to 3-3, 1-3 in the SEC.

Notes: It is the eighth time since 2004 that a South Carolina player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. It is also the second time that Sellers has earned Offensive Player of Week honors (Nov. 19, 2024).

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

ASHER CUNNINGHAM, UTAH STATE

Junior, Linebacker, Asheville, NC

The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, Asher Cunningham recorded a team-best 17 tackles, including two for losses, 0.5 quarterback sacks as Utah State came-from-behind to defeat Pac-12 rival Washington State, 17-16. Cunningham also forced two fumbles in the second half, recovering one, as the Aggies overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to improve to 2-4, 1-1 in the Pac-12.

Notes: It is the first time since 2004 that a Utah State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.  

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

Iowa State’s Aiden Flora and Tennessee’s Dejuan Lane Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 5 (Oct. 6)

/in /by

The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 3.

About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.   It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.

                                             

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

AIDEN FLORA, IOWA STATE

RS Sophomore, Running Back, Adel, IA

Aiden Flora was responsible for five total touchdowns (3 rushing, 2 passing) in Iowa State’s 45-42 win over West Virginia.  He rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a pair of touchdowns to become the ninth FBS player, and first Big 12 player since 1996, with two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and 200 yards rushing in a game (and he is the first non-quarterback to do so).

Notes: It is the fifth time since 2004 (and first since Oct. 8, 2017 – linebacker Joel Lanning) that an Iowa State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.  The Cyclones’ last offensive honoree was former wide receiver Todd Blythe on Oct. 30, 2005.

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

DEJUAN LANE, TENNESSEE

Junior, Defensive Back, Jessup, MD

Dejuan Lane registered a team high nine tackles, two quarterback sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, one QB hurry and one interception to help lead Tennessee past SEC-rival Auburn, 24-14. Lane’s nine tackles were also career high. With the victory, the Volunteers improved to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the SEC.

Notes: It is the ninth time since 2004 (and first since Oct. 16, 2022 – wide receiver Jalin Hyatt) that a Tennessee player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.   The last defensive honoree was former linebacker Darrell Taylor on Nov. 10, 2018.

 

Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880.   Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.  Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.  

 

The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.  For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.