College Football Week 5: QB Country Players of the Week
QB Country trainees dominated Week 5, earning every major national weekly QB award and a host of conference awards. According to Pro Football Network, six of the top 15 FBS QB performances (40%) this week were delivered by QB Country quarterbacks. Top performers included:
FBS Co-Players of the Week:
Holton Ahlers, East Carolina
Holton was the top-ranked QB by Pro Football Network in Week 5, going 31-for-41 for 465 yards and 6 TDs in ECU’s 48-28 win over South Florida. Holton was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week and earned both Davey O’Brien Great 8 and Manning Award Star of the Week honors. He delivered one of Kirk Herbstreit’s top five performances for Week 5.
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
Grayson went 24-of-34 for 335 yards and 3 TDs and added a score on the ground in Coastal’s 34-30 comeback win over Georgia Southern. Grayson led the Chanticleers to 20 fourth quarter points and the game-deciding TD. He was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week and earned Davey O’Brien Great 8 honors. Gray has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 18-straight games, a CCU record, and has thrown 14 touchdown passes this season, including two or more in each game on the year.
First Team:
Phil Jurkovec, Boston College
Phil led BC to a thrilling 34-33 win over Louisville, going 18-of-21 for 304 yards and 3 TDs. His efforts landed him on Pro Football Network’s list of top Week 5 performances.
Drake Maye, UNC
Drake continued his strong play, going 26-of-36 for 363 yards and 3 TDs and rushing for 73 yards and two more scores on the ground in UNC’s 41-10 romp over Virginia Tech. Drake picked up Davey O’Brien Great 8 and Manning Award Star of the Week honors for the third time this season and had the second-highest PFF grade of any FBS QB in Week 5.
Will Rogers, Mississippi State
Will led Mississippi State to an impressive 42-24 victory over #17 Texas A & M, going 31-of-45 for 329 yards and 3 TDs and earning Davey O’Brien Great 8 and Manning Award Star of the Week honors. With the win, Will and the Bulldogs entered the FBS rankings this week at #23.
Bo Nix, Oregon
Bo did it through the air and on the ground in #12 Oregon’s 45-27 victory over Stanford, going 16-of-29 for 161 yards and 2 passing TDs and rushing for 141 yards and 2 TDs. Bo was a Kirk Herbstreit top performer for Week 5.
Garrett Shrader, Syracuse
Garrett was perfect in #22 Syracuse’s 59-0 victory over Wagner, going 17-of-17 for 238 yards and 2 TDs and adding another rushing TD.
FCS Player of the Week: Matt McKay, Elon
Matt went 20-of-35 for 322 yards and 3 TDs in #23 Elon’s 30-27 2OT victory over #22 Richmond
Best of the rest:
Riley Leonard, Duke: 18/24, 129 yards, 1 TD, 59 yards and 2 rushing TDs in a 38-17 win over Virginia.
Austin Aune, North Texas: 14/20, 180 yards, 3 TDs (1 INT) in 45-28 win over Florida Atlantic
Jarret Doege, Troy: 7/8, 71 yards, 2 TDs (all in the fourth quarter) in 34-27 win over Western Kentucky
Chris Reynolds, Charlotte: 22/38, 349 yards, 4 TDs (1 INT) in 41-35 loss to UTEP
Eli Sawyer and Cephus Johnson, SE Louisiana: Eli went 14/21 for 234 yards and 1 TD; Cephus went 7/9 for 61 yards and 1 TD and added 64 yards and a TD on the ground in 48-14 win over Murray State