As we are still trying to figure out what the ACC is from one week to the next, the conference doles out its Players of the Week kudos. Three of the players are from Pitt, perhaps softening the blow of their head coach being fined by the conference for lashing out about the game officials.
Quarterback of the Week
Eli Holstein from Pitt if both the quarterback of the week and the Rookie of the Week. For the second consecutive game, he led the Panthers to a come-from-behind victory. This time it was erasing a double-digit West Virginia lead in the last five minutes of the game. He led Pitt to scoring drives of 75 and 77 yards to pull out a 38-34 win. In the game, he was 21 of 30 passing for 301 yards and three touchdowns. He now has 300+ yards passing in all of Pitt’s games this year, making him the first freshman in school history to accomplish that three weeks in a row.
Running Back of the Week
Omarion Hampton of North Carolina rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries in a 45-10 win over North Carolina Central. With 416 yards rushing in three games, Hampton leads the ACC. He is fourth in the country.
Receiver of the Week
VA Tech’s Jaylin Lane had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown in the Hokies’ 37-17 win over Old Dominion. He also had 29 yards on three punt returns. The 135 total yards led all ACC receivers over the weekend.
Offensive Lineman of the Week
Miami put up huge numbers Saturday over a totally outmanned Ball State team. Tackle Francis Mauigoa was part of a line that helped the Hurricanes garner 750 yards of total offense, (507 passing yards), in the 62-0 win. It was the second most in school history. The offensive line did not allow a sack on any of Ball State’s 71 plays.
Defensive Lineman of the Week
Another Hokie is heard from. Antwaun Powell-Ryland tied a school record with four sacks in the VA Tech win over Old Dominion. He had seven total tackles and forced two fumbles, recovering one of them.
Linebacker of the Week
We get our second Pitt player of the week here. Kyle Louis had 13 tackles in the win over West Virginia. He also sealed the game for the Panthers with a game-ending interception in the closing seconds. He also added a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry to his stats for the game.
Defensive Back of the Week
Donovan McMillon shared the game’s high stat for tackles with his linebacker teammate. McMillion had 13 tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble in the come-from-behind win over West Virginia.
Specialist of the Week
North Carolina State’s Kanoah Vinesett kick three field goals, (39, 35, and 52 yards), and three PATs in the Wolfpack win over Louisiana Tech. He accounted for 12 of NC State’s 30 points in the 30-20 victory.
