After the first full week of college football, the ACC has some Player of the Week love from various award committees. As the conference continues to challenge its perception issue, you take the good news from wherever it comes.
Paul Hornung
Pitt junior running back Desmond Reid was recognized Wednesday by the Paul Hornung Award committee. The award goes to a multipurpose football player and they name a weekly “honor roll.” Reid was named for his role both as a running back and a kick return specialist in the Panthers home win over Kent State.
Reid had a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 46-yard scoring run. He accounted for 234 all-purpose yards. He joined Arizona senior running back/return specialist Quali Conley, Colorado junior defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter, and Penn State junior running back/return specialist Nicholas Singleton on the weekly honor roll.
Davey O’Brien
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award committee tabbed Miami quarterback Cam Ward as their Player of the Week. His Hurricanes beat Florida in Gainesville, 41-17 Saturday. Ward was 26 of 35 passing for 385 yards and three touchdowns. He also had three carries for 33 yards. Earlier in the week he was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week.
Lou Groza
The committee for the Lou Groza Award recognized North Carolina place kicker Noah Burnette this week. The Tar Heels beat Minnesota 19-17. Burnette accounted for 13 of the North Carolina points. He connected on field goals of 52, 42, 29, and 45 yards. He also had the PAT on UNC’s lone touchdown.
At the end of the season, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will go to the best placekicker in the country.
Burnette was on this week’s honor list along with Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter, and Michigan’s Dominic Zvada.
Outland
North Carolina defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie is the Football Writers Association Outland Trophy National Player of the Week. At the end of the season, the FWAA All-American committee will choose the best interior lineman in the country for the Outland Trophy.
In the UNC 19-17 win over Minnesota, Ritzi had six tackles and three sacks. The three sacks are the most in a single game by a North Carolina player since Tomon Fox had three against Miami in 2019.
Ray Guy
The last one for the week is full of irony. Florida State punter Alex Mastromanno is the National Punter of the Week. Florida State is 0-2 and about the only working well for the Seminoles is the punting game. If they were playing better, Mastromanno would not have the opportunities he has had.
He had three punts of 50 yards or more in the loss to Boston College Monday night. He averaged 52.2 yards per punt. Mastromanno also had a career long-tying 65-yard punt.
