West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins, Jr. and Kentucky’s Jordan Castell Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 7 (Oct. 20)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 17.
About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MICHAEL HAWKINS JR., WEST VIRGINIA
RS Sophomore, Quarterback, Austin, TX
Michael Hawkins, Jr. became the first quarterback in West Virginia history to record 450+ passing yards (464) and 75+ rushing yards (77) in a game, leading the Mountaineers to a 45-42 victory over Big-12 rival Cincinnati. Hawkins passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more as WVU improved to 4-3 (1-3 in Big 12). Hawkins leads all FBS quarterbacks with 749 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
Notes: It is the second time this season that Hawkins has earned Player of Week honors (Week #3 – Sept. 22). It is also the ninth time since 2004 that a West Virginia player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior, Safety, Orlando, FL
The SEC Defensive Player of the Week, Jordan Castell recorded nine tackles, two interceptions and one pass breakup as 15th-ranked Kentucky defeated Oklahoma, 21-13. Castell’s second interception was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter which gave the Wildcats an eight-point lead. With the win, Kentucky improved to 6-1, 4-1 in the SEC.
Notes: It is the fifth time since 2004 that a Kentucky player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. Castell is the first defensive honoree since former Wildcat linebacker Jacquez Jones on Oct. 3, 2021).
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Utah State’s Asher Cunningham Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 6 (Oct. 13)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 10.
About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
LANORRIS SELLERS, SOUTH CAROLINA
Senior, Quarterback, Florence, SC
The SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, LaNorris Sellers accounted for 299 yards of total offense and five touchdowns as the Gamecocks defeated 16th-ranked Florida, 38-19, on the road. Sellers was 23-of-35 passing for 279 yards and four touchdowns and added 20 rushing yards and one score. With the win, South Carolina improved to 3-3, 1-3 in the SEC.
Notes: It is the eighth time since 2004 that a South Carolina player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. It is also the second time that Sellers has earned Offensive Player of Week honors (Nov. 19, 2024).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior, Linebacker, Asheville, NC
The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, Asher Cunningham recorded a team-best 17 tackles, including two for losses, 0.5 quarterback sacks as Utah State came-from-behind to defeat Pac-12 rival Washington State, 17-16. Cunningham also forced two fumbles in the second half, recovering one, as the Aggies overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to improve to 2-4, 1-1 in the Pac-12.
Notes: It is the first time since 2004 that a Utah State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
Iowa State’s Aiden Flora and Tennessee’s Dejuan Lane Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 5 (Oct. 6)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 3.
About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
RS Sophomore, Running Back, Adel, IA
Aiden Flora was responsible for five total touchdowns (3 rushing, 2 passing) in Iowa State’s 45-42 win over West Virginia. He rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a pair of touchdowns to become the ninth FBS player, and first Big 12 player since 1996, with two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and 200 yards rushing in a game (and he is the first non-quarterback to do so).
Notes: It is the fifth time since 2004 (and first since Oct. 8, 2017 – linebacker Joel Lanning) that an Iowa State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. The Cyclones’ last offensive honoree was former wide receiver Todd Blythe on Oct. 30, 2005.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior, Defensive Back, Jessup, MD
Dejuan Lane registered a team high nine tackles, two quarterback sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, one QB hurry and one interception to help lead Tennessee past SEC-rival Auburn, 24-14. Lane’s nine tackles were also career high. With the victory, the Volunteers improved to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the SEC.
Notes: It is the ninth time since 2004 (and first since Oct. 16, 2022 – wide receiver Jalin Hyatt) that a Tennessee player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. The last defensive honoree was former linebacker Darrell Taylor on Nov. 10, 2018.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Texas’ Colin Simmons Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 4 (Sept. 29)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 26.
About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior, Wide Receiver, Miami Gardens, FL
The Big Ten Offensive Player of Week, Jeremiah Smith recorded 12 receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns in Ohio State’s 42-19 victory against Illinois. His 217 yards tied for the sixth most in a single game in Ohio State history. Smith became the first player in program history to surpass 3,000 career receiving yards and now has 3,175.
Notes: It is the 16th time since 2004 that a Ohio State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. Smith is the first Buckeye offensive honoree since former quarterback C.J. Stroud was honored on Nov. 20, 2021.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior, Edge, Dallas, TX
Colin Simmons recorded a Texas single-game record with 5.5 quarterback sacks as the top-ranked Longhorns (4-0, 1-0 in SEC) defeated 14th-ranked Tennessee, 20-17. For the game, Simmons recorded nine total tackles (6 solo), forced one fumble and had 10 quarterback pressures. The 5.5 sacks also tied for the third-most in FBS history (since sacks became an official NCAA state in 2000).
Notes: It is the 16th time since 2004 that a Texas player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. The last defensive honoree was former Longhorn linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. on October 27, 2025.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
Walter Camp Named to Inaugural Hopkins Hall of Fame
A three-year football letterwinner and team captain at Hopkins Grammar School, Walter Camp went on to star at Yale before becoming one of the most influential figures in the history of American football. His work developing many of the rules and structures that shaped the modern game earned him the enduring nickname “The Father of American Football.”
For the first time in its storied history, Hopkins School will induct a class into the Hopkins Athletics Hall of Fame this fall, honoring eight inaugural inductees whose achievements span more than a century of Hilltopper athletic history.
West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr. and Louisville’s Kaleb Beasley Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 3 (Sept. 22)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 19.
About the Award: This is the 23rd year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season. It is the nation’s longest-running Player of Week award.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MICHAEL HAWKINS JR., WEST VIRGINIA
RS Sophomore, Quarterback, Austin, TX
Guiding the WVU offense in its 38-27 win over then-No. 25 Virginia, Michael Hawkins Jr. threw for 190 yards and two scores. Named the Big 12 Offensive Player of Week, Hawkins Jr. also set career highs in rushing with 123 yards and three touchdowns. He became the first Big 12 quarterback to score five touchdowns against a ranked opponent since 2019 and the first FBS signal caller to achieve the feat this season.
Notes: It is the eighth time since 2004 (and first since September 2, 2018 – Will Grier, QB) that a West Virginia player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior, Defensive Back, Nashville, TN
Kaleb Beasley finished with a team-high 10 tackles and two interceptions in the Louisville’s 41-31 win over No. 16 SMU. Beasley recorded an interception in the second quarter and added another late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Cardinals, who improved to 3-0. Beasley was also honored as the ACC Defensive Back of the Week.
Notes: It is the sixth time since 2004 (and first since November 6, 2016 – Lamar Jackson, QB) that a Louisville player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. The last defensive honoree was former safety Gerod Holliman on November 9, 2014.
Considered the “Father of American Football,” Walter Camp introduced the play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side in 1880. Nine years later, Mr. Camp, then the Yale University head coach, selected the first-ever college football All-America team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
The Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 25 awards have honored more than 1,000 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
