UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava and Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 6 (Oct. 7)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending October 4.
About the Award: This is the 22nd 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, Quarterback, Long Beach, CA
Nico Iamaleava accounted for all five of UCLA’s touchdowns (2 passing, 3 rushing) and 294 yards of total offense (166 passing, 128 rushing) to lead the Bruins to a 42-37 upset over No. 7 Penn State. It marked UCLA’s first home win over a Top-10 team since 2007. In the victory, Iamaleava set single-game career highs in rushing (128 yards) and rushing touchdowns (three).
Notes: It is the ninth time since 2004 that a UCLA player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. Iamaleava is the first UCLA honoree since former quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Sept. 22, 2019).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore, Corner Back, Round Rock, TX
Leonard Moore had two interceptions, forced one fumble and totaled six tackles in Notre Dame’s 28-7 win over Boise State. The sophomore was also responsible for two third-down stops on the day. His second interception sealed the game for the Irish, allowing the offense to kneel out the clock to secure the 28-7 win. Moore and the Irish (3-2) defense stymied a Boise State offense, holding it to 200 yards less than its season average.
Notes: It is the 16th time a Notre Dame player has earned Walter Camp National Player of Week honors since 2004. It is the fourth straight season a ND defensive back has earned Defensive Player of Week honors. Moore joins former teammates Benjamin Morrison (Nov. 6, 2022) and Xavier Watts (Oct. 17, 2023 and Dec. 3, 2024).
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 950 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.
Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Ohio State’s Caden Curry Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 5 (Sept. 30)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 27.
About the Award: This is the 22nd 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
Graduate Student, Quarterback, Albuquerque, NM
Diego Pavia accounted for 400 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in Vanderbilt’s 55-35 win over Utah State. He completed 26-of-34 passes for 321 yards and a school-record-tying five touchdowns. Pavia also led the Commodores with 79 rushing yards and one touchdown on just nine carries. Vanderbilt is 5-0 for the first time since 2008.
Notes: It is the fourth time since 2004 that a Vanderbilt player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. Pavia is the first Vandy honoree since former All-America linebacker Zach Cunningham (Oct. 15, 2016).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior, Defensive End, Greenwood, IN
Caden Curry recorded a career-high 11 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and three quarterback sacks in top-ranked Ohio State’s 24-6 win over Washington. Curry’s TFL total is the highest in a single game in Ohio State history, and the most by any FBS player this season. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Curry led a Buckeye defensive unit that held Washington to just 234 total yards, 61 on the ground.
Notes: It is the 15th time an Ohio State player has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004, and the first since October 30, 2022, when former defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau was honored.
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 950 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.
TCU’s Eric McAlister and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week (Week #4 – Sept. 23)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 20.
About the Award: This is the 22nd 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
ERIC MCALISTER, TCU
Senior, Wide Receiver, Azle, TX
Eric McAlister had eight receptions for 254 yards, the second most in a single game in program history as TCU defeated SMU, 35-24, in the Battle for the Iron Skillet. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, McAlister also caught three touchdowns (27, 70 and 44 yards).
Notes: It is the 12th time since 2004 that a TCU player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. McAlister is the first TCU honoree since former former Horned Frog quarterback Max Duggan (Oct. 2, 2022).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JACOB RODRIGUEZ, TEXAS TECH
Junior, Linebacker, Wichita Falls, TX
Jacob Rodriguez led 17th-ranked Texas Tech to a 34-10 victory at 16th-ranked Utah. Rodriguez had 11 tackles, while also adding one forced fumble and one interception. The Red Raiders created four forced turnovers in the win – a season high – against a Utah offense that entered the game averaging 45.7 points a game.
Notes: It is the eighth time a Texas Tech player has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004 and the first since former linebacker Jordyn Brooks (Oct. 6, 2019).
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 950 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.
Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy and Southern Miss’ Ian Foster Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week – Week 3 (Sept. 16)
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 13.
About the Award: This is the 22nd 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
Sophomore, Running Back, Oma, MS
Ahmad Hardy rushed for 250 yards (on just 22 carries) and scored three touchdowns as No. 25 Missouri (3-0) defeated Louisiana-Lafayette, 52-10. Hardy scored on runs of 7, 71 and 7 yards and produced the most rushing yards by any FBS player in a game this season and the seventh-most in a single game in Mizzou history.
Notes: It is the seventh time since 2004 that a Mizzou player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. Hardy is the first honor since former Tiger quarterback Drew Lock was honored on Sept. 3, 2017.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt Sophomore, Safety, Brundidge, AL
Ian Foster recorded a career-high 12 tackles (5 solo) as the Golden Eagles defeated Sun Belt Conference rival App State, 38-22. Foster also had one interception which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown and added three pass breakups, one on a 3rd and 2 play late in the first half to quell a Mountaineer drive in which he almost collected his second interception, and one on 4th and 9 late midway through the fourth quarter to end another App State possession.
Notes: It is the second time a Southern Miss player has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since 2004 (linebacker Michael Boley, Sept. 12, 2004).
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 950 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.
Week 2: Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson and Texas A&M DL Cashius Howell Named Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Week
The Walter Camp Football Foundation has announced the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games ending September 6.
About the Award: This is the 22nd 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
Redshirt Senior, Quarterback, Lubbock, TX
Sawyer Robertson led the Bears to a come-from-behind, double overtime win at No. 17/16 SMU, 48-45. Robertson completed 34-of-50 passes for 440 yards and four touchdowns. Robertson led drives of 72 yards and 82 yards in the fourth quarter of the comeback win. The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, Robertson is just the third college quarterback (since 2000) to throw for at least 850 yards and 7 TDs without an interception to open a season.
Notes: It is the fifth time since 2004 that a Baylor player has earned Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week honors. Robertson is the fourth Baylor quarterback to be recognized, joining former signal-callers Robert Griffin III (2011-twice), Bryce Petty (2014) and Seth Russell (2015).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior, Defensive Line, Kansas City, MO
Cashius Howell led the 16th-ranked Aggies (2-0) to a 44-22 victory over Utah State. Howell, who recorded four tackles on the day, recorded a quarterback sack in three consecutive plays – on one Utah State drive – in the second quarter. It was the first time a FBS player has recorded three straight sacks since 2015.
Notes: It is the 10th time that a Texas A&M player has earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors and the first since former quarterback Kellen Mond (Nov. 24, 2018). Howell is the Aggies’ first Defensive Player of the Week since Von Miller (Nov. 28, 2010).
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 950 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 National FBS Player of Week Award Program Returns for 22nd Year
Walter Camp FBS Player of Week Facts
Background
The Walter Camp National FBS Player of Week award began in 2004. It is the longest- running Player of Week award in college football. 116 different schools have had either an Offensive or Defensive Player of the Week during that time.
All-time Recipients (2004 to 2024) – pdf
Most recipients by team (entering the 2025 season)
21, Alabama (SEC)
15, Notre Dame (Independent)
14, Clemson (ACC)
14, Ohio State (Big Ten)
13, LSU (SEC)
13, Texas (SEC, previous Big 12))
12, Oregon (Big Ten, previous Pac-12)
12, Oklahoma (SEC, previous Big 12)
Three-Time Recipients
Six players have been three-time Player of Week recipients.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma (2004-twice, 2005)
Colt McCoy, QB, Texas (2006, 2008, 2009)
Case Keenum, QB, Houston (2008, 2009, 2011)
Julius Jones, LB, Georgia (2011, 2012-twice)
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville (2016-three times)
Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss (2020, 2021-twice)
There have been 34 two-time recipients (24 on offense; 10 on defense).
Team First
Two times since 2004 have the Defensive Player of the Week gone to an entire defensive unit. On Sept. 25, 2005, the Virginia Tech defense earned the honor after a 51-7 victory over then 15th-ranked Georgia Tech. On November 6, 2016, the Alabama defensive unit was accorded Defensive Player of the Week honors after allowing zero points and just 125 yards of total offense in a 10-0 win over then 13th-ranked LSU.
Sharing the Award
Just once in 21 years has there been a Co-Player of the Week. North Carolina running backs Michale Carter and Javonte Williams share Offensive Player of Week honors after a 62-26 victory over then 10th-ranked Miami, Carter rushed 24 times for 308 yards and two touchdowns, while Williams had 23 carries for 236 yards and three scores.
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 950 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.
