College Football's All-Week 6 First Team: Top Performers at Every Position
In case some fans were unsure if college football was experiencing a running back renaissance this season, Week 6 should have sealed the deal.
Five different running backs broke the 200-yard mark this weekend, including a trio of offensive stars for undefeated programs. The game's best back—and possibly overall player—so far in 2015 didn't even lead his team in rushing Saturday, but he was part of a record-breaking day behind a dominant run-blocking offensive line.
Dual-threat quarterbacks also had their day to shine, including a do-it-all leader for an SEC program that desperately needed a win at home.
That's not to say the running game completely took over Week 6, as several big-name receivers and defensive stars turned in absurd stat lines all across the country.
With that in mind, here are the Week 6 position-by-position selections for the best performances of the week. A reminder—we selected these players for their overall statistics compared to the rest of the country, with bonus bumps given to players who played in higher-profile games against better competition.
As always, there's plenty of room for debate on who deserves to be a weekly All-American. Tell us your picks in the comments below.
Quarterback: Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee)
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25-of-42 passing for 312 yards, three TDs and one INT; 18 carries for 118 yards and two TDs
Tennessee flipped the script on its 2015 season Saturday against Georgia, rallying from a 21-point deficit to knock off the Bulldogs in Knoxville. A huge reason for that turnaround was the outstanding play of Joshua Dobbs, who finished with 430 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns.
"Dobbs willed us to this win," coach Butch Jones said, per Patrick Brown of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "Many players willed us to win. This whole team was poised. I think we grew up a little bit."
Dobbs finally had a standout day through the air and on the ground, as he sparked 28 unanswered points for Tennessee during the middle of the game. If the Vols can continue to get a similar level of production from their quarterback, they will still be a factor in the SEC East.
Second Team: Luke Falk (Washington State)
50-of-74 passing for 505 yards, five TDs and zero INTs
Sure, Luke Falk threw a huge amount of passes in Wazzou's double-overtime win over Oregon, but his five touchdowns were to four different receivers—and he didn't throw a single interception. That Air Raid efficiency has him knocking on the door of an all-time NCAA record.
Running Backs: Jordan Canzeri (Iowa) and Dalvin Cook (Florida State)
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Canzeri: 43 carries for 256 yards and one TD; two receptions for 15 yards and one TD
Jordan Canzeri only had one touchdown on the ground in Iowa's 29-20 victory over Illinois, but he put in a game-winning performance for the still-unbeaten Hawkeyes.
Canzeri had the most rushing attempts and yards of any player in Week 6, and his 75-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter helped give Iowa a 10-point lead. The Hawkeyes leaned on their top running back in the fourth—according to Brian Bennett of ESPN.com, Canzeri ran the ball on the first 11 plays of the field-goal drive that sealed the victory.
"I’m not being smart here, but I don’t count [carries]," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said, per Marc Morehouse of the Gazette. "I’m not keeping track. There’s no pitch count. ... In a game like this, you go with your best players. We had to, the game was on the line."
Cook: 22 carries for 222 yards and two TDs; three receptions for 47 yards and one TD
Dalvin Cook entered Florida State's prime-time matchup against rival Miami with some concerns about his injured hamstring.
That hamstring looked fine for the vast majority of the Seminoles' close win over the Hurricanes, as Cook had 269 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. His scores came from 72, 36 and 32 yards out, and he averaged a stunning 10.1 yards per carry.
"That guy is a champion and an unbelievable guy," Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher told ESPN's Heather Cox after the game. "Let me tell you something, I'm glad he's on my team."
Second Team: DeVontae Booker (Utah) and Mike Warren (Iowa State)
Booker: 34 carries for 222 yards and two TDs
Warren: 23 carries for 245 yards
While Cal's offensive star struggled against Utah, the Utes got another standout performance from their own—running back DeVontae Booker, who had the second-most carries and fourth-most rushing yards of anyone in Week 6. And although it came in a losing effort, freshman Mike Warren continued to carry the Iowa State offense by averaging 10.7 yards per carry against Texas Tech.
Wide Receivers: Josh Doctson (TCU) and Jakeem Grant (Texas Tech)
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Doctson: Eight receptions for 155 yards and two TDs
TCU's Josh Doctson and Baylor's Corey Coleman seem to be in a competition to see how many times they can get in these weekly All-American teams.
This weekend, Doctson earns the nod with another highlight reel-worthy performance in TCU's latest dramatic victory. He had an impressive leaping touchdown in the first quarter over a Kansas State defensive back and scored the game-winner on a 55-yard connection from Trevone Boykin with a little more than one minute remaining in regulation.
Doctson now ranks No. 2 nationally in receiving yards per game with 146.2, and he joins Coleman (13) as the only two players in college football to have double-digit receiving touchdowns so far this season.
Grant: Nine receptions for 166 yards and two TDs
Another Texas receiver had a standout game Saturday, as Tech's Jakeem Grant had the second-most receiving yards of Week 6 in a two-touchdown day against Iowa State.
After weaving his way for a 75-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, Grant caught a 37-yard strike from an under-pressure Patrick Mahomes late in the second quarter.
Grant continued his chase of fellow in-state wideouts Doctson and Coleman in the FBS leaderboards in the 66-31 win for the Red Raiders. He ranks seventh nationally so far in 2015 with 648 receiving yards on 44 receptions.
Second Team: Leonte Carroo (Rutgers) and Laquon Treadwell (Ole Miss)
Carroo: Seven receptions for 134 yards and three TDs
Treadwell: Eight receptions for 136 yards and two TDs
A late fourth-down spike would be the talking point for Rutgers after its loss to Michigan State, but the Scarlet Knights took the Spartans down to the wire thanks in part to big-play receiver Leonte Carroo's three-touchdown game. At Ole Miss, Laquon Treadwell got back on track for the Rebels with a career-high 136 yards and a ridiculous one-handed catch against New Mexico State.
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Tight End: Jordan Leggett (Clemson)
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Four receptions for 56 yards and two TDs
Jordan Leggett was a star in Clemson's fast start Saturday against Georgia Tech, grabbing a pair of touchdowns in the first half from star quarterback Deshaun Watson. His 29-yard score was especially impressive as he sliced right through the secondary on a good route.
"Leggett caught two touchdowns, giving him four on the season and at least one in each of the last three games," Brad Senkiw of the Independent Mail wrote. "He flat-out said in fall camp that he was playing for a pro contract."
If Leggett continues to be a reliable target near the end zone for Watson, there's no reason the 6'5", 255-pound junior won't be playing on Sundays in the near future. His frame and athleticism make him a matchup nightmare for almost any defense.
Second Team: David Morgan II (UTSA)
Nine catches for 85 yards and two TDs
It's been a rough season for the young UTSA program, but David Morgan II continues to be a bright spot—he is now second nationally for tight ends in receptions and yards after his big game in a close loss to Louisiana Tech.
Offensive Line: LSU
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624 total yards of offense and one sack allowed
With Leonard Fournette not even getting the most rushing yards on his own team—he still had 158 yards and a touchdown—the offensive line of LSU stole the spotlight Saturday in Baton Rouge.
The Tigers had 624 yards of total offense and a program-record 396 yards on the ground against South Carolina thanks to another strong performance from the offensive line. Fournette is a phenomenal back and Heisman front-runner, no doubt, but he wouldn't be as successful without this excellent front five.
"When you keep pounding on the defense as the quarters go on, a four- or -yard run turns into 12-yard run," right tackle Vadal Alexander said, per Randy Rosetta of NOLA.com. "The next thing you know, it pops and turns into an 80-yard run. You've got to just pound away, keep fighting for extra yards and keep finishing your guy because you never know when your block is going to spring a long run and make it a big play."
Second Team: Texas
368 total yards and two sacks allowed
Texas didn't light up the scoreboard Saturday in its upset win over Oklahoma, but it dominated the line of scrimmage against the previously undefeated Sooners. The Longhorns' unsung heroes on the offensive line paved the way for 313 rushing yards.
Defensive Ends: Emmanuel Ogbah (Oklahoma State) and Carl Nassib (Penn State)
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Ogbah: Eight tackles (one for loss), one sack, two forced fumbles and one TD
Oklahoma State is turning Emmanuel Ogbah into a superhero, and he's been playing like one these last few weeks for the undefeated Cowboys.
The top defensive end forced two fumbles Saturday night in a win against West Virginia. He pounced on one of them for his first career defensive touchdown, which proved to be crucial in a matchup that went into overtime.
"He plays so hard and he’s had so many reps the last three weeks and then tonight," Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said, per Ocolly.com. "But he’s a force. There’s no questions that he’s a really, really good college football player. His leadership and his effort and his ability to make plays obviously gives us a chance to be a really good defense."
Nassib: Four tackles (two for loss), two sacks and two forced fumbles
The nation's new leader in sacks, Carl Nassib returns to the All-American team this week after coming up with two big takedowns and two forced fumbles in Penn State's 29-7 win over Indiana.
Nassib continued to create plenty of havoc across a strong Penn State defensive line. The former walk-on now has 10 sacks this season and five forced fumbles, emerging as one of the best defensive ends in a conference that has much bigger names at the position.
"Forget Joey Bosa and Shilique Calhoun," Josh Moyer of ESPN.com wrote. "No B1G defensive end is playing better football right now."
Second Team: Ken Ekanem (Virginia Tech) and Tyquan Lewis (Ohio State)
Ekanem: Nine tackles (2.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and one pass breakup
Lewis: Five tackles (2.5 for loss) and two sacks
Ken Ekanem was all over the place for Virginia Tech on Friday night in the Hokies' big 28-13 ACC victory over reeling North Carolina State. Tyquan Lewis continued to take advantage of all the attention placed on teammate Joey Bosa by recording two more sacks in the Buckeyes' victory over Maryland.
Defensive Tackles: Willie Henry (Michigan) and Sheldon Day (Notre Dame)
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Henry: Four tackles (2.5 for loss) and two sacks
One could highlight several stars from Michigan's defensive showcase against Northwestern, but let's start with dominant defensive lineman Willie Henry.
The versatile junior sacked Northwestern dual-threat quarterback Clayton Thorson twice and pitched in two more tackles. While he sometimes lines up at defensive end, we'll place Henry here as a first-teamer because he was listed as a starting tackle on Michigan's official StatBroadcast. Either way, he was a monster all the way through the fourth quarter.
"As seniors, we want to be out there to finish the game," Henry said, per Nicole Auerbach of USA Today. "We always talk about finishing plays, finishing the game. It's just something, as a defense, that's become a mentality: We just want to finish (off) everybody."
Day: Nine tackles (2.5 for loss)
Sheldon Day is looking more and more like an early first-round pick in the NFL draft. On Saturday, he had the stats to back that up, notching a career-high nine tackles—with 2.5 for loss—against Navy's option attack.
Navy, with its talented quarterback Keenan Reynolds and its run-first ways, is a constant threat each season to hand the Irish an upset loss. That didn't happen as Day had the most tackles on a defense that only allowed three second-half points.
"Day played nearly the entire [game], shifting outside and in, taking on multiple Navy blockers as he went toe-to-toe," Keith Arnold of NBC Sports wrote. "And after Jerry Tillery sat most of the second half with what looked like an elbow injury, Day’s consistency and work volume proved vital, with really no backup behind him."
Second Team: Poona Ford (Texas) and Austin Johnson (Penn State)
Ford: Three tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks
Johnson: Nine tackles (1.5 for loss) and one sack
Poona Ford led the charge on Texas' defensive line against Oklahoma, filling up gaps and limiting the Sooners to fewer than 300 yards of total offense at the Cotton Bowl. Austin Johnson continued to excel alongside Nassib by racking up an impressive nine tackles against Indiana.
Outside Linebackers: Travis Feeney (Washington) and Malik Jefferson (Texas)
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Feeney: Seven tackles (3.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks
Washington's defense showed out Thursday night in the Huskies' upset win at then-No. 17 USC, holding the Trojans to just 12 points.
Travis Feeney did a little bit of everything for the Huskies in the victory by constantly pressuring the USC backfield, getting after quarterback Cody Kessler and supplying big-time support in pass defense. By the end of the night, he had a big stat line in an even bigger win for Washington.
"The 6'3", 223-pound Feeney was everywhere, showing terrific closing speed and an explosive pop to rattle Kessler, who struggled from the outset in this game, ultimately completing just 16 of 29 passes for 156 yards and two interceptions without a touchdown," Rob Rang of CBS Sports wrote.
Jefferson: Six tackles (two for loss) and two sacks
With the likes of Poona Ford overwhelming the Oklahoma offensive line, Texas true freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson feasted on the Sooners en route to winning the Walter Camp national player of the week award on defense.
Jefferson had five solo tackles, one assisted tackle and the first two sacks of his career in the upset victory over Oklahoma. His second sack was huge for the Longhorns, as it backed Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma offense up to a 2nd-and-18 situation on its last drive of the game. Three plays later, the Sooners punted.
The freshman is already a star on Charlie Strong's defense, which could be downright ferocious in the future, given Strong's track record and the amount of talent he's already assembled in Austin. This should be the first of several award-winning weekends for Jefferson.
Second Team: Antonio Longino (Arizona State) and Dorian O'Daniel (Clemson)
Longino: Eight tackles (4.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble
O'Daniel: Seven tackles (three for loss) and one pass breakup
Antonio Longino posted one of the best defensive stat lines of Week 6, terrorizing the Colorado backfield in a 48-23 victory for the Sun Devils. Clemson freshman Dorian O'Daniel had a true breakout performance by recording a trio of tackles for loss against option-running Georgia Tech.
Inside Linebacker: Reggie Ragland (Alabama)
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Eight tackles (one for loss), one sack, one forced fumble and one pass breakup
Reggie Ragland's performance was so good against Arkansas on Saturday night that it drew praise from head coach Nick Saban and spawned this creative stat-line tweet from Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News:
"Reggie Ragland with about a dozen punishing tackles, a sack, a pass breakup, three menacing glares and a kayak eaten tonight.
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) October 11, 2015"
With Ragland leading the Alabama defense, power-running Arkansas' longest carry of the game only went for eight yards. He was a one-man show for an elite unit Saturday night, and he's continuing to prove he's one of the best inside linebackers in the country.
Second Team: Matt Galambos (Pittsburgh)
Five tackles (two for loss), two sacks and one INT
Former Michigan State defensive coordinator and current Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi had a defensive star on his hands Saturday in Matt Galambos, who was a game-changer in both pass rushing and pass coverage in a tight win over Virginia.
Cornerbacks: Jalen Myrick (Minnesota) and Jourdan Lewis (Michigan)
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Myrick: One tackle (one for loss), two INTs and one TD
Jalen Myrick helped Minnesota run away with a huge win over Big Ten foe Purdue on Saturday. He picked off a pair of passes—returning one of them for a touchdown—and dropped a Boilermaker in the backfield for a tackle for loss.
"That is how he plays, and he has no fear," Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill said, per Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune.
With Eric Murray holding Purdue No. 1 receiver DeAngelo Yancey to a reception-less day, Myrick took full advantage by making several aggressive plays for the Golden Gophers. Minnesota will want more of that no-fear attitude from him as it looks to contend in the Big Ten West.
Lewis: Four tackles (one for loss), one INT, one TD and one pass breakup
Last week, Pro Football Focus graded Michigan's Jourdan Lewis as college football's No. 1 overall cornerback, per the Detroit Free Press. On Saturday, he justified that ranking and then some for the stingy Wolverines defense.
Lewis had a strong pick-six against Northwestern in which he ripped the ball from a receiver and took it 37 yards for the score. He also added four tackles, including one for loss, to his lockdown corner work in Michigan's third straight shutout.
"He's the best corner in the country," teammate Jabrill Peppers said, per Ted Janes of the Detroit Free Press. "That makes everybody's job a lot easier when you've got a guy out there that shuts down half the field. It's expected from him."
Second Team: Jalen Tabor (Florida) and Dominique Hatfield (Utah)
Tabor: One tackle, one INT, one TD and two pass breakups
Hatfield: Four tackles and two INTs
Jalen Tabor also got in on the pick-six parade Saturday and extended his SEC lead in passes defended, per Florida's official Twitter account. Utah forced five interceptions from Cal's Jared Goff, and Dominique Hatfield grabbed two of them to go along with four tackles in the victory.
Safeties: Jayron Kearse (Clemson) and J.J. Gaines (Texas Tech)
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Kearse: Six tackles (three for loss)
Clemson's defense threw every notion of a trap loss to Georgia Tech out the window Saturday by holding the Yellow Jackets to just 71 rushing yards. Safety Jayron Kearse made sure he played his part, flying up to the line of scrimmage and registering three big tackles for loss against the option attack.
"Nobody cares about the Notre Dame win if we lost to Georgia Tech," Kearse said, per Aaron Brenner of the Post and Courier. "Both those games where we won by three and two points, we had double-digit leads going into the fourth quarter, and we let them back in the game. We preached putting our foot on their throat and keeping them down."
Kearse and the rest of the Tigers did just that, choking the life out of Georgia Tech's once-devastating offense in another home victory.
Gaines: Four tackles and two INTs
Texas Tech defensive back J.J. Gaines had played in the nickel and at corner through the first few games of the 2015 season, but the Red Raiders needed him back at safety Saturday against Iowa State.
Gaines had no problem moving back to his old position. He picked off a pair of passes from Iowa State quarterback Sam B. Richardson, who only had 139 passing yards and 10 completions against Gaines and the Texas Tech secondary.
"It’s a different scheme from in the past," Gaines said, per Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, "but all the DBs are in the (meeting) room at the same time, so we get all the same knowledge, so it wasn’t too hard to switch positions."
Second Team: Mike Hilton (Ole Miss) and Brodie Hicks (Air Force)
Hilton: Four tackles (three for loss), one INT and one pass breakup
Hicks: Eight tackles and two INTs
Mike Hilton was all over the field in Ole Miss' bounce-back rout of New Mexico State, charging into the backfield for three tackles for loss and also picking off a pass from the Aggies. Brodie Hicks was another two-interception star Saturday and added eight tackles to lead Air Force over Wyoming.
Kicker: Justin Yoon (Notre Dame)
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2-of-2 on field goals (long of 52) and 5-of-5 on extra points
Notre Dame freshman kicker Justin Yoon came through late in the first half of a victory over Navy. He nailed a 52-yard field goal—the third-longest kick in school history—to give the Irish a 24-21 lead on the pesky Midshipmen heading into the halftime locker room.
"It wasn’t like we were giddy, we were excited we were able to execute our offense with 24 seconds to go," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said, per Justin Kenny of the News-Sentinel. "To get points right at the end of the half gave us momentum but we knew we were in for two more long quarters."
Notre Dame controlled those two long quarters, using the momentum from Yoon's late boot to outscore Navy 17-3 in the second half. He hit all of his extra-point attempts and added a 36-yarder in the fourth quarter to his long second-quarter kick, which was the longest of Week 6.
Second Team: Rafael Gaglianone (Wisconsin)
3-of-5 on field goals (long of 46) and 2-of-2 on extra points
Rafael Gaglianone missed a pair of kicks Saturday, but the Brazilian specialist redeemed himself by hitting a longer, game-winning attempt from 46 yards to give Wisconsin a dramatic 23-21 victory over Nebraska.
Punter: Trevor Daniel (Tennessee)
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Four punts for 315 yards (average of 45) and long of 56
Trevor Daniel has been a great punter for Tennessee so far this season, and although he didn't have nearly the best average in the country this weekend, he's a first-teamer solely for this jaw-dropping fourth-quarter punt.
"12.5k+ loops “@kevinmulligan: @VolRumorMill RT this one -> Fantastic punt by Tennessee's Trevor Daniel #SCTop10 #GBO https://t.co/pSGt1Ip2uF
— kevinmulligan (@kevinmulligan) October 11, 2015"
That punt pinned Georgia near its own goal line with little time remaining, and the Tennessee defense was able to hang onto its seven-point lead and seal the upset victory. It's going to be nearly impossible for someone to match that punt this season.
Second Team: Cameron Johnston (Ohio State)
Three punts for 164 yards (average of 54.7) and long of 65
Cameron Johnston had a shot at being the MVP of Ohio State's victory over Maryland on Saturday, as he pinned the Terps inside the 20 twice and boomed a 65-yarder.
Returner: Reggie Davis (Georgia)
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Four kick returns for 73 yards (average of 18.3); one punt return for 70 yards and a TD
Yes, Georgia's Reggie Davis couldn't hang onto what would've been a game-tying touchdown pass in the fourth quarter from Greyson Lambert. But that doesn't diminish the day he had on special teams in the close loss to Tennessee.
Davis made the absolute best out of a muffed punt return by taking it 70 yards for a score, becoming one of just two players to run one back for a score in Week 6. He also had a solid day on kick returns, averaging a little more than 18 yards per chance back there.
His critical drop of offense will hang over the loss, but Davis scored a big second-quarter touchdown for the Bulldogs and provided a needed spark on special teams.
Second Team: Jehu Chesson (Michigan)
One kick return for 96 yards and a TD
Jehu Chesson set the tone for Michigan's rout of Northwestern by taking the opening kickoff back 96 yards for a touchdown. It was the Wolverines' first kick-return score since 2009, per Brendan Quinn of MLive.com.
Unless otherwise noted, other statistics 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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