College Football's All-Week 3 Team: Top Performers at Every Position
The first "Shakeup Saturday" of the college football season featured plenty of big-time players who had to produce in big-time games.
A couple of star running backs cemented their Heisman credentials in Week 3, including LSU's runaway train of a superstar sophomore. Elsewhere, a pair of Power Five quarterbacks had their first breakout performances with their new schools and smashed a few records in the process.
Over on defense, the Midwest featured some tackle machines, while a handful of star defensive backs took over their respective matchups with several clutch turnovers. The special teams category also had some of its biggest performances of the young season, including a ridiculously long walk-off field goal by an impressive Big Ten specialist.
So, without further ado, here are the picks for college football's All-Week 3 team. These picks are determined mostly by statistical dominance, with some bonus points thrown in the direction of players who performed exceptionally well in high-profile or close games.
Share your own list of top Week 3 performers and discuss who you think had the biggest game of the weekend in the comments below.
Quarterback: Greyson Lambert (Georgia)
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24-of-25 passing for 330 yards and three TDs
In Week 2 against Vanderbilt, Greyson Lambert did not complete a single pass in the first half. On Saturday, though, the former Virginia quarterback looked like a completely different player, only throwing one incompletion and setting an NCAA record for completion percentage.
Lambert's 24-for-25 day through the air was the stunning highlight of Georgia's complete blowout victory over SEC East rival South Carolina. He completely picked apart the Gamecocks, who defeated the Bulldogs last season in an early upset.
But there was no chance of South Carolina pulling out a victory Saturday with the way Lambert was throwing the ball. If the Lambert that played against South Carolina can keep performing, there's no reason why Georgia won't contend for a playoff berth.
Second Team: Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
32-of-38 passing for 487 yards and four TDs; 13 carries for 85 rushing yards and two TDs
If Baker Mayfield would've had this massive performance on any other day, he would've easily taken home a first-team spot. But Lambert's record-breaking passing performance just edges Mayfield's unbelievable 572-yard, six-touchdown day in Oklahoma's shootout victory over Tulsa.
Running Backs: Leonard Fournette (LSU) and C.J. Prosise (Notre Dame)
2 of 14Fournette: 19 carries for 228 yards and three TDs
The first 200-yard performance of what is shaping up to be a legendary collegiate career for Leonard Fournette featured several highlight-reel runs as the Auburn defense couldn't slow down this elite talent.
"He is a freight train with the speed of a gazelle and lightning-quick moves," Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee wrote. "He's a transcendent running back who feeds off pressure, thrives off attention and runs with as sharp of an edge as anybody in the country."
With 12 yards per touch against Auburn, Fournette soared ahead in the early-season Heisman race. He's averaging three touchdowns and a national-best 193.50 yards through rising LSU's first two games of 2015.
Prosise: 23 carries for 198 yards and three TDs
One would've expected a Georgia Tech running back to star in Saturday's matchup between the Yellow Jackets and Notre Dame. But C.J. Prosise flipped the script.
On a Notre Dame team that continues to battle through a growing injury count, Prosise had one of the weekend's best performances in terms of rushing and went nine yards per touch in the win over Georgia Tech.
It was Prosise's first monster performance at running back, as he lined up mostly at wide receiver last season for the Fighting Irish. As Notre Dame sorts out its new-look offense, Prosise is emerging as an extremely valuable weapon for a championship contender.
Second Team: Paul Perkins (UCLA) and Jalen Richard (Southern Miss)
Perkins: 26 carries for 219 yards and one TD
Richard: 27 carries for 230 yards and four TDs
Paul Perkins put his name firmly in the Heisman race Saturday night with a 219-yard game in UCLA's comeback home victory over BYU. Jalen Richard recorded Week 3's top performance for a running back in terms of yardage and touchdowns in Southern Miss' wild 56-50 victory over Texas State.
Wide Receivers: Aaron Burbridge (Michigan State) and Roger Lewis (Bowling Green)
3 of 14Burbridge: Eight receptions for 156 yards and three TDs
Not only did Aaron Burbridge have one of the biggest receiving performances of Week 3, he also grabbed a Catch of the Year candidate in Michigan State's home win over Air Force. But he downplayed the ridiculous reception.
"I don't think it was too spectacular," Burbridge said, per Kyle Austin of MLive.com. "I had to make the play, I went up for it. It landed in my hand."
While Burbridge might not have called his grab "spectacular," his all-around performance against the Falcons definitely was. He added seven more catches, including two more for a touchdown, for a game-changing day for what is now the nation's No. 2 team.
Lewis: Seven receptions for 261 yards and three TDs
Although he would've been disappointed in the overall result, Roger Lewis put up the best receiving game of the young college football season Saturday
"The Falcons lost to Memphis but blame the defense," USA Today's Paul Myerberg wrote. "Lewis had 261 yards receiving to crack the 200-yard mark for the second week in a row, and through three games has 24 receptions for 510 yards."
The nation's No. 1 receiver in terms of yardage had a 94-yard touchdown that gave Bowling Green late in the third quarter. After Memphis tied it up, he scored from 62 yards out to give the Falcons the lead again. BGSU fell on the wrong end of the scoreline, but it definitely wasn't due to a lack of production from Lewis.
Second Team: Josh Doctson (TCU) and Trent Sherfield (Vanderbilt)
Doctson: Five receptions for 171 yards and two TDs
Sherfield: 16 receptions for 240 yards and one TD
Josh Doctson had his first monster game of 2015, scoring a pair of touchdowns against SMU—including a long one in the fourth quarter that virtually sealed a TCU victory. And while it came against FCS foe Austin Peay, Vanderbilt's Trent Sherfield deserves some major recognition for a Week 3-leading 16 catches in an eye-popping stat line.
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Tight End: Gerald Everett (South Alabama)
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Eight receptions for 164 yards and one TD
On a day when state powerhouses Alabama and Auburn lost, a young South Alabama program carried the football flag for the state of Alabama with a comeback upset victory at San Diego State.
Tight end Gerald Everett came through in the clutch several times for the Jaguars. He had a 54-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter that gave South Alabama the lead, and his 15-yard reception in overtime paved the way for a game-winning touchdown run.
Everett's 164 yards through the air were good enough for the a top-10 mark in Week 3 among all receivers, and his big-time catches in a close game give him the edge for a first-team spot this weekend.
Second Team: Terry Pettis (Middle Tennessee State)
Four receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns
Middle Tennessee State routed FBS newcomer Charlotte in a Conference USA contest, and Terry Pettis played a big part in the offensive explosion. He had a 76-yard touchdown catch against the 49ers and grabbed another score as the Blue Raiders moved to 2-1 ahead of a trip to Illinois.
Offensive Line: LSU
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485 yards of total offense, zero sacks allowed
As incredible as Leonard Fournette is, he can't do it alone—and the superstar LSU running back knows that. After his monster game against Auburn, Fournette gave props to his strong offensive line.
"[I had] no favorite run," Fournette said, per the Associated Press (via the Selma Times Journal). "I have favorite guys and that’s my (offensive) line."
LSU's offensive line paved the way for another big day for Fournette, and it also kept sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris upright in the few times he was called to attack Auburn through the air. Auburn's defense only accounted for one tackle for loss in the entire contest and didn't record a single sack.
Second team: Stanford
474 yards of total offense, three sacks allowed
Stanford's offensive resurgence continued Saturday night in the Cardinal's upset of USC in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Outside of a couple of bad sacks on quarterback Kevin Hogan, Stanford's offensive line took the game to the Trojans and, in the words of the Greg Beachem of the Associated Press, "largely made the difference against USC’s defense."
Defensive Ends: Myles Garrett (Texas A&M) and Harold Landry (Boston College)
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Garrett: Seven tackles (four for loss) and 3.5 sacks
Myles Garrett is the best pass-rusher in college football right now, and he pulled ahead for the national lead in sacks with a monster game against Nevada.
According to Peter Burns of ESPN, Nevada prepared for Garrett in practice last week by letting its defensive ends line up offsides. That preparation didn't count for much as Garrett recorded 3.5 sacks against the Wolf Pack, including two on consecutive plays.
"I have to do it," Garrett said, per Suzanne Halliburton of the Austin American-Statesman. "I can’t wait for anyone else to do it. If I can do it, I will. … I’m the captain. I’m the leader. They put me out there to make plays. When it’s hammer time, it’s time for me to go out there and make plays."
Landry: 11 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks
Boston College didn't pull off the upset of Florida State on Friday night—the Seminoles' defense was much too strong for that to happen—but Harold Landry still stood out in a losing effort.
The Eagles' defensive end had 11 tackles, including 4.5 in the backfield, to frustrate a Florida State offense after it scored on its first possession of the game and never found the end zone again
As SB Nation's BC Interruption blog noted, Landry is only a sophomore for the Boston College defense this season, and he's leading the entire country in tackles for loss. That's a crazy amount of production for an underclassman.
Second Team: Jonathan Bullard (Florida) and Roman Braglio (Maryland)
Bullard: Five tackles (two for loss) and two sacks
Braglio: Seven tackles (2.5 for loss), two sacks and one forced fumble
Jonathan Bullard helped the Florida defense set the tone for a tight win against SEC East foe Kentucky with a pair of sacks Saturday evening. Roman Braglio doesn't get as much attention on Maryland's defensive line as some of his teammates, but he was all over the USF backfield in the Terps' bounce-back victory.
Defensive Tackles: Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss) and Austin Johnson (Penn State)
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Nkemdiche: Six tackles (2.5 for loss) and 0.5 sacks
Robert Nkemdiche was denied another offensive touchdown, but the Ole Miss star and the rest of his teammates wouldn't be denied of an upset win Saturday night over then-No. 2 Alabama.
"The Ole Miss defensive tackle is as athletic of a 300-pounder as there is in the nation, but the junior hasn't always shown up in the big games," Chase Goodbread of NFL.com wrote. "He did that and then some Saturday... Alabama's offensive line couldn't handle him all night."
Nkemdiche played like a future NFL first-rounder against the Crimson Tide, constantly pressuring the backfield and coming up with a few monster plays for a defense that forced three interceptions. Although Ole Miss surrendered more than 500 yards to the Tide, Nkemdiche excelled for the "Land Sharks."
Johnson: Six tackles (two for loss) and one sack
Austin Johnson isn't the biggest defensive tackle name on his own team, but the Penn State lineman consistently broke through Saturday in the Nittany Lions' Big Ten win over Rutgers.
Johnson shares a defensive line with both Carl Nassib and Anthony Zettel, but he made a name for himself against the Scarlet Knights with two tackles for loss and a sack. Like Nkemdiche, the big man impressed those in attendance with his motor.
"Johnson was relentless on every snap and showed his quickness in running to the ball at scrimmage and also chasing plays from behind," Bob Flounders of PennLive.com wrote. "I want to know how many 323-pounders in college football have better wheels than No. 99."
Second Team: Davon Godchaux (LSU) and Cody Grice (Akron)
Godchaux: Four tackles (two for loss) and two sacks
Grice: Two tackles (one for loss) and three rushing touchdowns
LSU's dominance of the trenches against Auburn extended to defense, where Davon Godchaux got to quarterback Jeremy Johnson twice in the rout. And while Cody Grice didn't put up impressive defensive statistics against lowly Savannah State, he gets a special nod this week for recording three rushing touchdowns in Akron's short-yardage package.
Middle Linebacker: Anthony Walker (Northwestern)
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19 tackles (1.5 for loss)
Northwestern continues to defy its critics to open the 2015 season, and Saturday's win over Duke away from home marked the Wildcats' second upset in three games. Anthony Walker was a big reason for Northwestern's success, recording 19 tackles to shut down what had been a potent Duke offense.
Walker was a star in Northwestern's win over Stanford in Week 1, and his huge tackle count against the Blue Devils set the tone for a defense that has allowed only one offensive touchdown through three games—he had 14 in the first half alone.
The sophomore linebacker earned Walter Camp Player of the Week honors for his huge performance against the Blue Devils. As Northwestern's offense continues to find its footing, the undefeated Wildcats can rely on Walker leading what has been a stifling defense.
Second Team: Joe Schmidt (Notre Dame)
10 tackles (two for loss) and one sack
Notre Dame put the lockdown on Georgia Tech's option offense for the majority of Saturday's game in South Bend, and Joe Schmidt led the way from the middle linebacker spot. He led the Irish in tackles and also made a couple of plays in the backfield to help ND earn the big home win.
Outside Linebackers: Kenneth Olugbode (Colorado) and Eric Wilson (Cincinnati)
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Olugbode: 13 tackles, one INT and one TD
Saturday was quite a special 20th birthday for Colorado linebacker Kenneth Olugbode, who recorded double-digit tackles and had a huge pick-six in a rivalry victory over Colorado State. Olugbode took an advantage of a deflection from fellow linebacker Rick Gamboa and intercepted the ball, running it 60 yards for a score.
"Me and Rick had been talking prior to the snap," Olugbode said, per the program's website. "They kept getting us on screens, so we figured, see the screen, and right when he broke, Rick took off, hit him, and the ball went up in the air and I said, 'I gotta have it.'"
Olugbode's big play on defense ended a good drive for CSU and gave Colorado a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Buffaloes would go onto beat the Rams in overtime and improve their record to above the .500 mark.
Wilson: 18 tackles
Like Anthony Walker, Cincinnati's Eric Wilson was all over the field Saturday for his team, recording a stunning 18 tackles in a narrow victory over in-state foe Miami (Ohio).
Wilson doubled his tackle count from Cincinnati's Week 2 loss to Temple—one in which he forced a big fumble—and become a real difference-maker again for the AAC program. Last season, Wilson only had 26 tackles for the entire campaign.
Cincinnati was able to avoid the upset from the RedHawks with Wilson's huge defensive performance. In addition to all his tackles, he also batted a way a late fourth-down pass from Miami to secure the victory for a Bearcats team that couldn't afford to lose heading into a Thursday night matchup against Memphis.
Second Team: Nick Gilbo (Buffalo) and Alvin Jones (UTEP)
Gilbo: Nine tackles (2.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks
Jones: 11 tackles (five for loss) and 1.5 sacks
Nick Gilbo tormented FAU quarterback Jason Driskel all day in the Bulls' big road win by breaking into the backfield for 2.5 tackles for loss. Jones helped UTEP end a three-game road trip on a positive note with his constant pressure on New Mexico State.
Cornerbacks: Desmond King (Iowa) and Demetrius Monday (Kent State)
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King: Eight tackles (one for loss) and two INTs
Desmond King is simply on fire right now for Iowa. After recording a huge punt return touchdown and an interception against Iowa State last weekend, King recorded two picks on Pittsburgh's first two drives of the game Saturday.
King was matched up early on Pittsburgh star wide receiver Tyler Boyd, but the Panther was quickly shifted on the field after the Hawkeye corner's pair of early interceptions. By the end of the game, King had an impressive stat line, and Iowa had a big win over Pitt.
"It’s not carrying the team, but it’s doing our jobs," King said, per Marc Morehouse of The Gazette. "It’s getting the ball back for our offense. We get them better, they get us better. It’s just what we have to do. That’s one of our statements this year, to be one of the best defenses in the country."
Monday: Four tackles, two INTs, one forced fumble and one TD
Kent State's offense wasn't getting anything going against Minnesota on Saturday, so Demetrius Monday took matters into his own hands.
Monday scored Kent State's only touchdown of its 10-7 loss against the Golden Gophers when he forced a fumble and returned it 80 yards for the score. He also made sure the Minnesota offense wasn't generating many points, either, as he picked off a pair of passes in the close defeat.
The Kent State cornerback practically did everything he could in order to setup a possible Kent State upset victory over Minnesota. Even though the Golden Flashes fell short, Monday left the game with the most impressive defensive performance of Week 3.
Second Team: Corn Elder (Miami) and Vernon Hargreaves III (Florida)
Elder: Five tackles and one INT
Hargreaves: Four tackles and one INT
In a joke that nearly all of college football's corner of Twitter jumped on Saturday, Corn Elder prevented the Nebraska Cornhuskers from pulling off a comeback victory against Miami with a late overtime interception. And "VG3" makes his return to the All-American list this week after recording an interception and shutting down Kentucky's pass attack in the Gators' SEC opener.
Safeties: Tyree Robinson (Oregon) and Jonathan Crawford (Indiana)
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Robinson: One tackle, two INTs and one TD
Oregon's defense didn't have the prettiest of performances as a whole against Georgia State on Saturday, but it had a beautiful start when safety Tyree Robinson recorded a pick-six on the third play from scrimmage.
Robinson would record a second interception later in the game, and the Ducks would pull away from the Panthers to record a lopsided win at Autzen Stadium. With the Oregon secondary still prone to allowing big plays down the field, the Ducks will need Robinson to make some more of his own in the future.
"The first two games, I haven’t really made any big plays to help our defense out," Robinson said, per the program's website. "Coach Pellum and (defensive backs coach John) Neal have been talking about creating turnovers on defense, and that sometimes we might have to score. I was in the right spot at the right time, ended up getting the ball and once I saw it was open, just started sprinting."
Crawford: Four tackles and two INTs
Indiana knew that Brandon Doughty and the Western Kentucky offense would get its yards Saturday. But Jonathan Crawford came down with two interceptions of the WKU passer in important situations to help the Hoosiers improve to 3-0.
Crawford intercepted a pass at the Indiana 3-yard line to prevent Western Kentucky from going up two scores in the second half. After Indiana pulled ahead on a long scoring drive, Crawford picked Doughty off on his very next pass. Indiana would score again to make it 38-28, and it held onto a 38-35 victory.
It's also worth noting that both of those interceptions were the first of the freshman Crawford's collegiate career. His big second half Saturday was the epitome of a breakout performance.
Second Team: Jordan Simone (Arizona State) and Jeremy Cash (Duke)
Simone: 10 tackles (two for loss), one sack and one INT
Cash: 11 tackles (3.5 for loss) and one forced fumble
Jordan Simone did a little bit of everything for Arizona State in its big win over New Mexico, as he was equally successful at getting in the backfield and coming up with plays against the pass. And even though it came in a loss, Duke's Jeremy Cash showed why he is one of the nation's best safeties with his huge stat line against Northwestern.
Kicker: Marshall Koehn (Iowa)
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2-of-2 on field goals (long of 57), 3-of-3 on PATs
When you hit the weekend's longest college football field goal—and it's also a game-winner—you become the easiest call possible for the All-American team of the week.
Iowa kicker Marshall Koehn nailed a 57-yarder Saturday against Pittsburgh as time expired to give the host Hawkeyes a 27-24 victory. He also opened the scoring for Iowa with a 47-yarder, and he was automatic on his extra-point attempts.
The undefeated Hawkeyes' kicker also drilled a 64-yard punt Saturday, and he averages 12.5 yards per carry from his trick-play work in the first two games of the season. It's hard to find a more do-it-all specialist in college football than the powerful Koehn.
Second Team: Jake Elliott (Memphis)
3-of-3 on field goals (long of 52), 5-of-5 on PATs
Jake Elliott had a busy day as the Memphis kicker as the Tigers knocked off Bowling Green in a 44-41 shootout. Elliott drilled a 52-yard attempt early in the third quarter to cut into BGSU's lead, and his pitch shot in the fourth quarter turned out to be the game-winning points.
Punter: Cason Beatty (Florida State)
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Seven punts for an average of 52.3 yards (long of 58)
As Corey Clark of the Tallahassee Democrat wrote, Cason Beatty was perhaps the "least popular punter in the country" after Florida State's first two games of the season. But Beatty turned around his shoddy start to the year Friday night, when the Seminoles needed him the most.
"Five [punts] went longer than 50," Clark wrote. "He had a 58-yarder in the fourth quarter. And a 56-yarder that was downed at the 1 in the third quarter... In a game in which the offense did next to nothing, Beatty’s right leg was enormous for the Seminoles."
Beatty played a major role in keeping the Boston College offense off the scoreboard in Florida State's 14-0 ACC victory by consistently flipping the field. The tune around the punt game has changed in Tallahassee.
Second Team: Will Monday (Duke)
11 punts for an average of 55 yards (long of 71)
Another Duke star who deserves recognition after a tough loss to Northwestern, Monday was the busiest punter in the FBS on Saturday. He didn't wear down, though, averaging 55 yards and keeping the Blue Devils in the contest.
Returner: Ryan Switzer (North Carolina)
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Five punt returns for 168 yards (33.6 average) and one TD
Ryan Switzer was a machine on punt returns during his freshman season, taking an incredible five back for touchdowns. But Switzer was held out of the end zone on punt returns in 2014, and frustration started to mount.
But the junior returned to the score sheet as a special teams weapon Saturday against Illinois, taking a punt back 85 yards for a touchdown. His big breakthrough came after another big return—one for 71 yards—earlier in the Tar Heels' blowout win over the Fighting Illini.
"He has been frustrated," Fedora said, per the News & Observer's Andrew Carter. "Today, though, he got opportunities to return balls. There was not a lot of hang time on those balls and those other 10 guys were doing a great job up front (blocking), so he had some opportunities today."
Second Team: Solomon Vault (Northwestern)
Two kick returns for 118 yards (59 average) and one TD
Vault had one of the biggest special-teams touchdowns of the weekend, giving Northwestern its first touchdown with a 98-yard kick return on the first play of the second half against Duke. The Wildcats never surrendered the lead from Vault's big return and went onto record a big road win.
Stats courtesy of CFBStats.com.
Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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