There is some new blood with the ACC Players of the Week for week seven….and a change at Rookie of the Week.
Quarterback of the Week
After last season, pundits wondered where Cade Klubnik’s game was and if it would be enough to lead Clemson back to expected heights. To this point of the season, it is asked and answered. Klubnik gets the Player of the Week nod here for his performance in the Tigers’ win at Wake Forest. He was 31 of 41 passing for 309 yards and three touchdowns. He has thrown multiple touchdowns in five straight games this season.
Running Back of the Week
Jamal Haynes of Georgia Tech rushed for a career-high 170 yards and two touchdowns. That included the game-winning 68-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of the win over North Carolina. The 170 rushing yards are the most by a back in an ACC conference game this season.
Receiver of the Week
Jackson Meeks of Syracuse had a career-high 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the win at North Carolina State. His 11th catch of the game was the game-decider on fourth and goal. It is the third consecutive game for Meeks with at least eight catches.
Offensive Lineman of the Week
Returning to the GA Tech win over North Carolina, for this acknowledgment. Guard Keylan Rutledge led the front line that helped the Yellow Jackets rush for 371 yards in Chapel Hill. He also was the lead blocker on the previously mentioned 68-yard touchdown run by Jamal Haynes. Rutledge had a 98 percent efficiency rating in his blocking last Saturday.
Defensive Lineman of the Week
The Pitt Panthers remained undefeated after narrowly beating Cal 17-15. Defensive end Jimmy Scott had three sacks, including two of them in one series in the third quarter. The three sacks accounted for 17 yards of lost offense for Cal. The defense anchored by Scott held Cal to just 63 yards rushing on 40 carries.
Linebacker of the Week
Justin Barron of Syracuse had eight tackles, with two for a loss. He also had a sack and pass breakup in the win at NC State. But most importantly he recovered a fumble and had a pick-six of 41 yards. The eight tackles were a team-high for the game.
Defensive Back of the Week
Virginia lost to Louisville, but that did not diminish the efforts of Cavaliers’ safety Jonas Sanker. He had 11 total tackles, with eight of them being solo tackles. He also combined for a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
Specialist of the Week
We recapped earlier how Pitt squeaked by Cal 17-15. Placekicker Ben Sauls was three for three on his, including the game-winning 58-yarder. That kick tied the school record for longest field goal. His numbers include being two for two on PATs. Sauls is a perfect 10 for 10 on field goals and 28 for 28 on PATs this season.
Rookie of the Week
Louisville running back Isaac Brown led all Cardinals ball carriers with 146 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in the win at Virginia. It was his third 100-yard rushing game of the season. That makes him only the second true freshman in school history to do that. The other was quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2015. This was the first time this season that Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein has played in a game and did not win the Rookie of the Week nod.
