Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and California’s Kingston Lopa Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 2 (Sept. 15)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 12.
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
DREW MESTEMAKER, OKLAHOMA STATE
RS Sophomore, Quarterback, Austin, TX
Drew Mestemaker led the Cowboys to a 39-31 victory over No. 6 Oregon, finishing with 426 total offensive yards (317 passing yards and 109 rushing yards) and three touchdowns. Mestemaker, who was 26-of-43 passing, became the first OSU quarterback with 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game since 2022.
Notes: It is the 10th time since 2004 (and first since Sept. 17, 2024 – Alan Bowman, QB) that an Oklahoma State player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
RS Sophomore, Defensive Back, Sacramento, CA
Kingston Lopa recorded five tackles and three interceptions, including a 53-yard return for a touchdown, as California defeated ACC-rival Syracuse, 21-18. Lopa, who also earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors, secured the victory with his third interception with 53 seconds remaining in the contest.
Notes: It is the sixth time since 2004 (and first since Sept. 8, 2019 – Evan Weaver, LB) that a California 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.
