College Football's All-Week 7 First-Team: Top Performers at Every Position

Anything would have felt like a letdown after the bedlam of Week 6, but Week 7 did well to mitigate the hangover.

With two games between Top 10 teams and a second between Top 15 teams, there was a decent quota of big games to whet our whistle. Beyond that, we had a handful of Top 10 near-upsets in the late afternoon and early evening and a fulfilled Top 10 upset during #Pac12AfterDark.

As always, the week that was yielded a great deal of standout performances. At every position, numerous players played well enough to merit individual recognition.

But alas, there can only be room for a few.

The criteria for trimming that list placed a heavy emphasis on statistics—but only as viewed in context. Throwing for 300 yards against one team might be more impressive than throwing for 400 yards against another. So much of this list depends on the strength of the opponent and the way each player's teammates performed.

Keep that in mind as you are reading, but also feel free to chime in with anyone you think we overlooked.

And also, as always...happy bickering!

Quarterback

Bryce Petty, Baylor

28-58, 510 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT; 10 carries, 23 yards

Bryce Petty had 300 passing yards in the first half against a TCU defense that came in averaging 172.5 passing yards allowed per game.

And in the first half, he was only getting started.

After an up-and-down third quarter and a crippling interception at the start of the fourth quarter, Petty led Baylor back from a 58-37 deficit in less than 12 minutes with three late touchdown drives and one late field-goal drive. The second and third touchdowns each came on vertical throws that Petty dropped perfectly into his receivers' hands.

Art Briles' team was eager to attack TCU down the field, and its quarterback rewarded that eagerness. He throws the prettiest deep ball in college football, something that is difficult to tell against teams such as SMU and Buffalo—when his receivers are running wide open down the field—but patent on days such as Saturday.

"I told our guys we weren't gonna lose that game," Petty said when the comeback was over, per the team's official Twitter feed. "I just knew looking at guys' faces we were gonna come back in the game."

Petty has the look, sound and feel of a Heisman contender.

Second Team: Marcus Mariota, Oregon

17-27, 210 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 7 carries, 75 yards, 2 TD

Marcus Mariota did not play the sharpest game of his career against UCLA, but he still managed to combine for 285 yards and four touchdowns against a defense that is admittedly mercurial but loaded with future NFL players. And he did it on the road. After punting on its first two drives, Oregon scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions (excepting a kneel-down at the end of the first half).

Running Back

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Javorius "Buck" Allen, USC

26 carries, 205 yards, 3 TD; 4 receptions, 28 yards

Buck Allen continues to impress in the USC backfield, having now rushed for 115 or more yards in five of six games this season. Saturday's 205-yard explosion against Arizona set a new career high, topping his 154-yard game at Stanford in Week 2.

Allen scored touchdowns from 34 and 48 yards out in the first half and added a goal-line score in the second half. He was curiously left on the sideline for the first part of USC's final possession, but even so, the breadth of his performance was first-class.

"Allen made a convincing case to jump into the Heisman Trophy conversation," wrote Bleacher Report's Kyle Kensing. "Whether he does remains to be seen."

Second Team: Thomas Rawls, Central Michigan

40 carries, 270 yards, 2 TD

There was no shortage of competition from power-five conference players to take this spot on the list, but let's take a moment to recognize Thomas Rawls of Central Michigan. The former Michigan Wolverine had 40 carries for the second consecutive week, helping CMU move the chains and control the clock in a road upset over MAC favorite Northern Illinois. He has 499 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the past two games.

Wide Receiver

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Kolby Listenbee/Josh Doctson, TCU

9 catches, 206 yards, 1 TD ; 1 fumble recovery*

TCU lost the game, but its offense was beyond reproach. Quarterback Trevone Boykin and running back B.J. Catalon were also strong candidates for this list, but the play of receivers Kolby Listenbee and Josh Doctson stood out despite the gut-punching defeat.

Listenbee in particular played the best game of his career, stretching the Baylor secondary with his deep speed. His touchdown—the first points of the game—came on a 3rd-and-16 and required a remarkable sliding effort in traffic. If not for a couple of poor throws by Boykin on plays in which Listenbee had beaten the coverage, he could have easily finished this game with 100 more yards.

Doctson only caught five passes for 60 yards, but one of those catches was a 26-yarder on 4th-and-4 where he dragged a defender within 10 yards of the end zone. Later, after running back Aaron Green fumbled near the goal line at the end of a long run, Doctson, who had been heady enough to sprint down the field with Green, was there to pounce on the football. The Horned Frogs scored on the next play, extending their lead to 41-30 in the middle of the third quarter.

The two leading receivers on the other team—see: below—put up better numbers and could have made the Week 7 first team without argument. But they also had the Week 7 first-team quarterback throwing the passes. It's easier to post huge numbers when Petty is floating dimes over your shoulder. It's harder when Boykin—who was good but not great in Waco—is the man under center.

Second Team: Corey Coleman/Antwan Goodley, Baylor

16 catches, 302 yards, 4 TD; 5 carries, 28 yards*

Corey Coleman and Antwan Goodley combined to post huge numbers in the win over TCU, and both players stepped up when Baylor most needed some stepping. Goodley caught a touchdown to get the Bears within one score late in the fourth quarter, and Coleman caught the touchdown that tied the game. Coleman also gained 22 yards on three carries and 87 yards on three kickoff returns.

*combined stats

Tight End

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

AJ Derby, Arkansas

4 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD

Blake Bell has been decent for Oklahoma, but AJ Derby has been the best quarterback-turned-tight end in college football.

(And it isn't even all that close.)

Typically, Derby and Hunter Henry make their living in the trenches, catching passes with relative frequency but staying in to block more than they get down the field. On Saturday, however, Derby made the biggest play of his career through the air, catching a drag route across the middle, turning on the jets to get past cornerback Geno Smith and stiff-arming cornerback Eddie Jackson on his way to the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown that gave Arkansas a 13-7 lead.

The Razorbacks could not hold on to spring the upset, losing 14-13, but Derby's development is one of many moral victories they can derive from the start of this season. At some point, moral victories must become actual victories. But for now, progress is progress.

Second Team: Pharaoh Brown, Oregon

5 catches, 84 yards, 1 TD

Pharaoh Brown is a bit of an enigma, but he looked like a future NFL tight end against UCLA. His five catches and 84 yards were both career highs, and he did a good job helping the offensive line when asked to stay in and block as well. At 6'6", 250 pounds, Brown has the makings of a more productive player than he's been. Keep a close eye on how the Oregon offense uses him the rest of this season.

Offensive Line

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Archive photo.

OT Jake Fisher, Oregon

Before Saturday's return-to-form win over UCLA, Oregon's two most-recent opponents had both landed a defensive lineman on our All-Week first team: Xavier Cooper of Washington State in Week 4 and Dan Pettinato of Arizona in Week 6.

Jake Fisher sat out both of those games with a knee injury.

It appears that was not a coincidence.

Fisher returned to the lineup in Week 7 and showed no lingering effects from his injury, protecting Mariota for the first time in what seemed like forever. His return threw an out-of-flux line into flux, appearing to have an impact on all five of Oregon's starting linemen.

But Fisher was more than just a spiritual boon against the Bruins. Rob Rang of CBSSports.com said he was "reliable in pass protection" and lauded his "ability to get out to the perimeter and downfield"—a keystone trait for linemen in Oregon's offense.

Having one more able-bodied blocker made the Ducks look like playoff contenders reborn. One week after Oregon lost to Arizona, Fisher's return could not have come at a more pressing time.

Second Team: Purdue's Offensive Line

No one player stood out, but something needs to be said about Purdue's offensive line, which held its own in a 45-31 loss to Michigan State. The Boilermakers used a ton of quick passes to mitigate MSU's advantage in the trenches, but even when they dropped back to pass, and especially when they kept the ball on the ground, the way their blockers fared was one of the biggest surprises of Week 7. 

Purdue averaged more yards per play against Michigan State (5.48) than it did against Southern Illinois (5.44). Perhaps Darrell Hazell has this program headed in the right direction after all?

Defensive End

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Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State

10 tackles (5.5 TFL), 2 sacks

Kansas is a bad opponent with a bad offensive line. In a week that included many standout defensive line performances (e.g., Trey Flowers of Arkansas), strength of opposition was weighted heavily.

And Emmanuel Ogbah still made the All-Week 7 first team.

That is what 10 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss will get you. Ogbah proved he could get pressure against a good offensive line when he logged two sacks against Florida State in Week 1, and he has only gotten better with the added reps of nonconference play.

Both of Ogbah's sacks against the Jayhawks came on third down, the latter as Kansas was driving to tie the game with roughly a minute left to play. Oklahoma State escaped Norman with a 27-20 win, and Ogbah is the biggest reason why.

Second Team: Preston Smith, Mississippi State

4 tackles (1 TFL), 1 sack, 4 QB hurries

Preston Smith made his name against lesser-conference opponents, thrice being named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week but doing so against Southern Miss, UAB and South Alabama. However, he has kept up the momentum at the start of the conference season, playing what might have been his best all-around game against Auburn. He had one sack and four QB hurries and drew a holding penalty against what many think is the best offensive line in the country.

Defensive Tackle

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Note: Above photo taken Oct. 5 against Baylor.

A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama

5 tackles (1.5 TFL), 1 forced fumble

A'Shawn Robinson was undaunted by Arkansas' offensive line, a unit whose average weight is greater than that of any in the NFL.

The true sophomore was the best player on the field in Alabama's 14-13 victory, fighting hard to get a push up the middle and throwing a wrench into the Razorbacks' running game. Arkansas entered averaging 316.6 rushing yards per game and 6.91 yards per carry. Alabama held it to 89 rushing yards and 2.28 yards per carry.

Robinson also forced a fumble in the second quarter that Alabama recovered at the Arkansas 23 to set up its first score of the game, a touchdown pass to T.J. Yeldon. Later, on a crucial 4th-and-1 in the fourth quarter, Robinson split a double-team to force Jonathan Williams off his line, allowing Xzavier Dickson to make the tackle and give the Crimson Tide the ball back around midfield.

He is a man-child in every sense of the word.

Second Team: David Parry, Stanford

1 tackle (1 TFL), 1 sack, 5 QB hurries

A sack was the only stat David Parry registered in Friday night's win over Washington State. But anyone who watched the game knows his impact went a mile beyond the box score. He also had five QB hurries and opened lanes for players such as Peter Kalambayi to make plays in the backfield. He was a menace for 60 full minutes.

Outside Linebacker

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Note: Above photo taken Sept. 6 against Eastern Washington.

Hau'oli Kikaha, Washington

9 tackles (4.5 TFL), 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble

Shaq Thompson scored his fourth defensive touchdown of the year, but his partner in crime on the outside, Hau'oli Kikaha, had the significantly better game.

With 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks against California, Kikaha took the national lead in both stat categories, a surprising feat for a player so few people seem to know. He has been lights-out good all season, and Saturday was his best all-around game.

Cal had scored 55, 45, 59 and 60 points in its last four games entering Saturday. The Huskies held it to seven points on its home field.

For that, they have Kikaha to thank.

Second Team: Leonard Floyd, Georgia

3 tackles (1 TFL), 1 sack, 1 QB hurry, 1 forced fumble

Leonard Floyd posted very good numbers that might have been even better if not for multiple holding penalties. He was a headache for Missouri's offensive line all game, forcing quarterback Maty Mauk to extend plays outside the pocket (where he was extra prone to making mistakes). Georgia held Missouri to 147 yards, forced five turnovers and did not allow a point on the road against a ranked opponent for the first time in school history, per ESPN Stats & Information.

Inside Linebacker

John Raoux/Associated Press

Terrance Plummer, UCF

17 tackles (4.5 TFL), 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble

Terrance Plummer put on a show Thursday night against BYU—an impressive feat regardless of Taysom Hill's injury and absence.

UCF won the game in large part because of its star inside linebacker, who saved his best plays for the biggest moments. He forced and recovered fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter, ending a 13-play BYU drive that had gotten as deep as the UCF 15-yard line, and had a sack on the subsequent possession, which eventually set up Justin Holman's game-tying touchdown pass to Josh Reese. 

The Golden Knights are not as good as they were when they won the Fiesta Bowl last season, but thanks in large part to holdovers such as Plummer, they are still on the short list of the best group-of-five teams in the country. For his efforts against BYU, Plummer was named the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week.

Second Team: Paul Dawson, TCU

18 tackles (2 TFL), 2 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble

Baylor found most of its success down the field, targeting speedy receivers on vertical routes. Underneath, linebacker Paul Dawson did a remarkable job closing things up. Last week's first-team linebacker played just as well in Week 7, helping TCU establish an early lead with a third-down sack on Baylor's first possession and a forced fumble on its second. The secondary behind him waned, but Dawson, once again, played like a future All-Big 12 first-teamer.

Cornerback

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma

8 tackles, 1 INT, 3 pass breakups, 1 TD

Zack Sanchez had his interception streak snapped against TCU—his first game without a pick since Bedlam in 2013—but wasted little time in starting a new one. He picked off Tyrone Swoopes in the first half against Texas, returning it for a 43-yard touchdown to boot.

But Sanchez was more than just a one-play wonder against UT, also recording eight tackles and breaking up three passes. The best of those PBUs came on a 3rd-and-8 from the Sooners' 11-yard line on the first drive of the game, when Swoopes looked for John Harris on a fade route to the corner of the end zone, but Sanchez showed good body control to jump up and knock it away.

"This week was just about getting back to basics," Sanchez said, per RJ Young of SoonerScoop.com. "A lot of things were technique and just mental for us. That's something we worked on this week."

Suffice it to say that it showed.

Second Team: Jonathan Jones, Auburn

5 tackles, 2 INT, 2 pass breakups

Jonathan Jones had two interceptions and two pass breakups despite playing most of the game on an island against bigger receivers such as De'Runnya Wilson (6'5"). He was called for a pass-interference penalty against Wilson on a crucial 4th-and-8 in the fourth quarter, but the call could have gone either way. In fact, Jones said after the game that even Wilson thought there shouldn't have been a flag on the play, per Justin Hokanson of 247Sports.

Safety

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss

7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD

For what seems like the fourth or fifth time, Cody Prewitt has been included on this list to represent the Ole Miss defense by proxy. He is the captain of the best active unit in college football.

More than just that, Prewitt made the biggest play of Saturday's win over Texas A&M, intercepting Kenny Hill and weaving 75 yards down the sideline for a touchdown that put Ole Miss up 21-0. The Aggies had just appeared to find a decent rhythm, driving 11 plays after a 3-and-out and a six-play drive to start the game, but Prewitt quashed their rebellion in an instant. Even when Texas A&M started scoring, the outcome was never in doubt for the rest of the game.

Other Rebels' defenders such as defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (whose pressure forced the poor throw on Prewitt's interception in the first place) and nickel back Tony Conner were also considered for this list, only missing out because of competition at their respective positions. Prewitt is the reigning All-American and the most-visible player, but make no mistake: It is depth, balance and cohesion that makes the "Landsharks" such a special group.

Second Team: Zach Hoffpauir, Stanford

15 tackles, 2 pass breakups

Zach Hoffpauir had 15 tackles against Washington State, limiting the Cougars' yards after catch with impressive efficacy. That is the most important thing a safety can do against Mike Leach's offense, which is predicated on getting the ball to playmakers in space and allowing them to break tackles and gain extra yardage.