As the ACC goes through its weekly player of the week considerations, the word will come one day that a quarterback from Pitt is not the rookie of the week. And that will be news. Until that week comes, the Pitt quarterback owns the ACC Player of the Week award.
Rookie of the Week
Yes, we are starting here. Because for the fourth time in four weeks, Eli Holstein is the ACC Rookie of the Week. The Pitt quarterback was 16 of 24 passing for 247 and three touchdowns. He also had 93 yards and two touchdowns rushing in the 73-17 win over Youngstown State.
Quarterback of the Week
Miami’s Cam Ward was 24 of 34 for 404 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the Cane’s 50-15 route of USF. Ward has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of Miami’s first four games this season. That makes him the first ACC quarterback to do that in their first four games in the conference.
Running Back of the Week
Brashard Smtih of SMU had 127 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 18 carries in the annual rivalry game against TCU. He also had 27 receiving yards and 39 yards on kick returns. That gave him 190 all-purpose yards for the game. He had more than 100 all-purpose yards in every game this season.
Receiver of the Week
Boston College’s Lewis Bond had six catches for 102 yards Saturday. None were more important than the 42-yard game-winning touchdown against Michigan State. The Eagles beat the Spartans 23-19 in the annual Red Bandana Game. It was Bond’s first 100+ receiving yards game this season.
Offensive Lineman of the Week
Virginia racked up 384 rushing yards in the win over Coastal Carolina last weekend. That is the most by the Cavaliers in more than two decades. Guard Noah Josey played every offensive play of the game and had PFF’s third-highest blocking grade in the country. He gets the nod this week.
Defensive Lineman of the Week
Florida State defensive end Patrick Payton played a critical role in the first win of the season for the Seminoles. He had three sacks and three-and-a-half tackles for loss in the win over previously undefeated Cal. FSU had seven total sacks in the game.
Linebacker of the Week
Stanford went cross country to get its first-ever ACC win in season one for the Cardinal in the conference. Outside linebacker David Bailey had four tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble for Stanford in the win at Syracuse. The Cardinal have forced an opponent turnover in every game this season.
Defensive Back of the Week
SMU safety Ahmaad Moses gets the nod this week. Moses had four tackles, two interceptions, and a pass breakup in the Mustangs home win over TCU. One of his interceptions was returned 60 yards for a pick-six.
Specialist of the Week
Stanford placekicker Emmet Kenney had the game-winning field goal at Syracuse. He had four field goals on the night, including the 39-yarder on the last play of the game. He also had a career-long 51-yarder earlier in the game. Kenney is eight for eight on the season.
