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.
