In an electrifying display of talent during College Football Week 3, Ahmad Hardy of Missouri delivered a standout performance, rushing for an impressive 249 yards in his team’s victory. Averaging an astonishing 11.9 yards per carry, Hardy also demonstrated his ability to break tackles, achieving an average of 7.9 yards after contact. His contributions were pivotal in securing his recognition as the Offensive Player of the Week.
Meanwhile, Fernando Mendoza from Indiana showcased remarkable precision as he earned the Quarterback of the Week honors. Completing his passes with only one incompletion, Mendoza boasted a notable 14.3% rate of big-time throws, further solidifying his status in the national spotlight.
Top Performers and Teams
Missouri’s offensive prowess extended beyond Hardy, as the team’s offensive line demonstrated exceptional skill by not allowing a single pressure throughout the game. This strong performance contributed to a total of 439 rushing yards, solidifying their offensive line’s status as the Offensive Line of the Week.
On the defensive side, Keyshawn James-Newby from New Mexico earned accolades for his dominant presence in a victory over UCLA. He recorded 12 total pressures on just 30 snaps, achieving a remarkable 91.1 pass-rushing grade, marking it as one of the highest of his college career.
The following is the National Team of the Week, showcasing the top performers across various positions:
– **Offense**
– QB: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
– RB: Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
– WR: E. Jai Mason, Charlotte
– WR: Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
– TE: Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech
– Flex: Mario Craver, Texas A&M
– LT: Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
– LG: Henry Lutovsky, Nebraska
– C: Koltin Sieracki, Baylor
– RG: Jonathan Denis, Louisiana Tech
– RT: Keagen Trost, Missouri
– **Defense**
– EDGE: Caden Curry, Ohio State
– EDGE: Keyshawn James-Newby, New Mexico
– DI: Clay Patterson, Stanford
– DI: Landon Robinson, Navy
– LB: Shane Whitter, North Texas
– LB: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
– CB: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
– CB: Collin Wright, Stanford
– S: Bray Hubbard, Alabama
– S: Bishop Fitzgerald, USC
In addition to Hardy and Mendoza, other players received recognition for their performances. George Gumbs Jr. from Florida was highlighted as the Run Defender of the Week, making significant contributions in the run game with four tackles that led to defensive stops. Meanwhile, Leonard Moore of Notre Dame excelled as the Coverage Defender of the Week, achieving a 90.8 PFF coverage grade after limiting the opposition to just one reception on five targets.
Conference Highlights
The week also featured strong performances in various conferences. The ACC Team of the Week included notable players such as Haynes King from Georgia Tech and Hollywood Smothers from NC State. In the SEC, Ty Simpson from Alabama was recognized alongside Hardy, who also made the SEC Team of the Week.
The Big Ten Team of the Week saw Mendoza leading the charge, supported by other stars like Omar Cooper Jr. from Indiana and Sonny Styles from Ohio State, both contributing significantly to their teams’ successes.
In the Big 12, standout performances from players like Brendan Sorsby of Cincinnati and Ismail Mahdi of Arizona were also acknowledged, reflecting the competitive landscape of college football this season.
As the season progresses, performances like those from Hardy and Mendoza set the stage for an exciting series of matchups ahead, with players continuing to vie for recognition and their respective teams aiming for success in the NCAA landscape.
