College Football's All-Week 11 First Team: Top Performers at Every Position
Two teams ruled this past weekend in college football—#TeamChaos and this Week 11 All-American team.
In a week in which five AP Top 10 teams went down and a few more ranked outfits went down to the wire, big-time playmakers were at a premium for programs Saturday.
Offensively, a Big Ten powerhouse survived on a ridiculous offensive performance by its quarterback and several standout targets. Down in the SEC, a national title contender kept rolling on behind its Heisman contender, and a rising program continued to impress by dominating the trenches.
The other side of the ball featured several game-saving performances, including one from a do-it-all linebacker at the nation's top Group of Five school. Others tormented backfields with high tackles-for-loss counts, and one cornerback did something no one else in the country had been able to do all season.
As we always do at this time on Sunday, here are our picks for Week 11's best position-by-position performers. Remember, these players are chosen by their statistical excellence first and foremost, with extra consideration given to those who played in huge games.
A lot of great players missed the cut this week, so feel free to shout out some more nominees in the comments below.
Quarterback: Jake Rudock (Michigan)
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33-of-46 passing for 440 yards, six TDs and one INT
Remember Jake Rudock's rough season opener against Utah? The Wolverine quarterback has come a long, long way from that Thursday night in Salt Lake City, as evidenced by his masterful 440-yard, six-touchdown performance against Indiana.
Rudock threw a clutch, game-tying touchdown pass as time expired in Michigan's road trip to pesky Indiana, and he had two more scores on three plays in overtime to give the Wolverines a double-overtime victory. His 440 yards were the fourth-most in Week 11, and his six touchdowns were tied for the national lead.
"He is unflappable," Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said of Rudock, per Zach Shaw of the Michigan Daily. "He does not flinch."
Second Team: Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
24-of-34 passing for 270 yards, two TDs and one INT; 15 carries for 76 yards and one TD
Other quarterbacks might have put up more impressive numbers against lower-quality competition, but Mayfield's dual-threat night led Oklahoma to a road upset over previously undefeated Baylor—inside a stadium the Bears had never lost to prior to Saturday.
Running Backs: Derrick Henry (Alabama) and DeAndre Washington (Texas Tech)
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Henry: 22 carries for 204 yards and two TDs
The Heisman is starting to look like Derrick Henry's to lose. The bruising Alabama running back delivered his second straight 200-yard performance Saturday, ripping off a couple of huge touchdown runs in the Tide's romp over Mississippi State.
After a quiet first quarter, Henry helped give Alabama a 21-3 lead with a devastating 74-yard run right through the heart of the Bulldogs defense. He wrapped things up in the fourth quarter with a 64-yard touchdown, extending his lead atop the national leaderboard in that category.
Henry has scored a rushing touchdown in his last 15 games, and he's found the end zone multiple times in each of Alabama's last four contests. Even when the Tide's offense isn't rolling, Henry finds a way to put up incredible numbers.
Washington: 27 carries for 248 yards and three TDs
Texas Tech is known for its pass-happy offense and has been for quite some time. However, DeAndre Washington did something no Texas Tech player has done in more than 15 years during the Red Raiders' 59-44 win over Kansas State.
Washington rushed for 248 yards, becoming the first back from the school to break 200 yards in a game since 1999, per Betsy Blaney of the Associated Press (via the Dallas Morning News). He led the entire country in rushing yardage for Week 11 and scored three big touchdowns in the process, helping Texas Tech become bowl-eligible.
"The whole week, we felt like we had some things that would could capitalize on with their defense," Washington said, per Carlos Silva Jr. of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "I think those receivers, they did a helluva job. Especially, downfield—springing some of those longer runs. It was just a good team effort."
Second Team: LeShun Daniels (Iowa) and Marlon Mack (USF)
Daniels: 26 carries for 195 yards and three TDs
Mack: 21 carries for 230 yards and two TDs
LeShun Daniels became the latest Iowa running back to come through with a huge performance, as he delivered 195 yards and three touchdowns—including a game-sealing 51-yard score late in the fourth quarter of the undefeated Hawkeyes' win over Minnesota.
Marlon Mack put his own finishing touches on USF's upset of Temple with a 48-yard touchdown, and he averaged a stunning 11 yards per touch on the Owls.
Wide Receivers: Jehu Chesson (Michigan) and Sterling Shepard (Oklahoma)
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Chesson: 10 receptions for 207 yards and four TDs
Somebody had to catch all those strikes Jake Rudock was throwing Saturday. Most of the time, it was Jehu Chesson.
The Wolverine receiver led the nation with four touchdown catches, and three of those came in the first half. When Rudock called on him again in a tense situation, Chesson delivered with a 41-yard grab on third down and a five-yard, game-tying touchdown as time expired.
According to Michigan, Chesson is only the second Big Ten player in 20 years to have more than 200 receiving yards and four touchdowns in a single game. And for the Wolverines, that explosive performance couldn't have come at a better time.
Shepard: 14 receptions for 177 yards and two TDs
Several playmakers for Oklahoma could have gotten first-team love this week after the upset win over Baylor, but Sterling Shepard seemed to stand out above the rest Saturday night.
Shepard caught an impressive 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns—this acrobatic play and a third-quarter grab that helped give Oklahoma a lead it never relinquished. Only one other Power Five receiver had as many catches this weekend as Shepard—Mayfield's consistent go-to target.
"Oh geez, 177, that's good," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said, per Ryan Aber of the Oklahoman. "He's a special player. The guy's dynamic. He makes so many competitive, tough catches."
Second Team: Gabe Marks (Washington State) and Thomas Sperbeck (Boise State)
Marks: 12 receptions for 92 yards and two TDs
Sperbeck: 20 receptions for 281 yards
Gabe Marks continued to come up huge for the Washington State Air Raid attack, and his touchdown catch with three seconds left gave the Cougars a wild upset win over UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Thomas Sperbeck and Boise State couldn't avoid the upset against New Mexico, but the receiver deserves a ton of attention after catching an insane 20 passes for the Broncos on Saturday night.
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Tight End: Brandon Lingen (Minnesota)
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Six receptions for 105 yards and one TD
Brandon Lingen is becoming a staple of these all-week teams, even when his Minnesota Golden Gophers are unable to pull out victories.
Lingen led all tight ends nationally once again in receiving yards, going for 105 and a touchdown in Minnesota's narrow loss to undefeated Iowa away from home. The versatile tight end was wide-open against the stingy Iowa defense on a game-tying 40-yard score in the second quarter. Lingen also had several first-down grabs on a pair of touchdown drives in the final period.
"All you can ask for is to give yourself a chance in the fourth quarter. Then you've got to make a play to win the game," new Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys said, per Luke Meredith of the Associated Press (via the Daily Journal). "It's not because of our effort; that's for sure."
Second Team: Jake Butt (Michigan)
Seven receptions for 82 yards and one TD
Once again, Jake Butt gets special recognition for a fantastic performance in Michigan's passing attack. Butt had seven catches, including a crucial touchdown grab in the first overtime period for the Wolverines.
Offensive Line: Arkansas
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440 yards (299 rushing) and two sacks allowed
The biggest offensive line in the entire football universe threw its weight around Saturday night in Arkansas' dominant road upset of LSU.
The Razorbacks rushed for a season-high 299 yards against the Bayou Bengals, and the offensive line sprung several huge runs for the likes of running back Alex Collins and wide receiver Jared Cornelius. They kept quarterback Brandon Allen upright for most of the game, too, against LSU's attacking defensive front.
"Offensive coordinator Dan Enos called a brilliant game," Bleacher Report's Bryan Manning wrote. "He kept LSU guessing with some misdirection but ran right down LSU's throat behind Arkansas' mammoth offensive line. Head coach Bret Bielema clearly has this team headed in the right direction."
Second Team: North Carolina
487 yards (298 rushing) and two sacks allowed
North Carolina blew the doors off Miami with a 59-21 victory in Chapel Hill, and the Heels' rushing attack had a huge day behind an excellent offensive line, as Bud Elliott of TomahawkNation.com pointed out:
"North Carolina is a delight to watch if you like offensive line play
— Bud Elliott (@TomahawkNation) November 14, 2015"
Defensive Ends: Jonathan Allen (Alabama) and Noble Nwachukwu (WVU)
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Allen: Seven tackles (three for loss), three sacks and one forced fumble
Alabama's defensive front might be one of the best in recent college football history. On Saturday, Jonathan Allen got his turn to lead the way in the Tide's victory over Mississippi State.
Allen had three of the Tide's nine sacks on star quarterback Dak Prescott, and he also managed to punch the ball away from a Bulldog on one of his tackles. He led the defensive line with seven tackles, and he also hurried Prescott on what would have been a big third-down conversion in the second quarter.
The only thing Allen managed to do wrong on Saturday? According to Alex Martin Smith of SECCountry.com, Allen accidentally ran into head coach Nick Saban on the sideline and gave him a cut on his cheek that drew blood. It seems like everyone in Allen's vicinity needs to be on high alert for a swift takedown.
Nwachukwu: Four tackles (three for loss) and three sacks
West Virginia's defense stood tall Saturday to secure a win over Texas, and one of the Mountaineers' stars of the fourth quarter was defensive end Noble Nwachukwu.
After not registering a single tackle in the game's first three quarters, Nwachukwu broke through for three tackles for loss—all sacks—in the final frame of WVU's 38-20 victory against the Longhorns. He had two of those in three plays during a goal-to-go situation for the Texas offense, and Texas had to settle for a field goal.
Nwachukwu now has a team-high 6.5 sacks this season, and five of them have come in the last three games for the Mountaineers. Now he'll look to lead his team and a resurgent defense to bowl eligibility in the next few weeks.
Second Team: Caleb Azubike (Vanderbilt) and Joey Bosa (Ohio State)
Azubike: Four tackles (three for loss), two sacks and one forced fumble
Bosa: Seven tackles (three for loss) and 0.5 sacks
Caleb Azubike came up big for Vanderbilt's defense in an important SEC win over Kentucky, compiling two sacks and forcing a fumble for the Commodores. Joey Bosa looked like his old dominant self Saturday for Ohio State with three tackles for loss in an easy win over Illinois.
Defensive Tackles: Malik McDowell (Michigan State) and Aaron Curry (TCU)
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McDowell: Eight tackles (4.5 for loss), 0.5 sacks and one forced fumble
Michigan State sophomore defensive tackle was a bulldozer Saturday in the Spartans' 24-7 win over struggling Maryland. He had an impressive 4.5 tackles for loss, and he forced one of the Terps' five turnovers on the day.
"Malik was pretty dominant," Michigan State co-defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said, per Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free-Press. "If we can eliminate a few offsides, I think we'll be ready to roll."
McDowell's career day moved him just behind senior Shilique Calhoun in tackles for loss. He hadn't made a tackle in the opposing backfield since the Michigan game, and he picked the perfect time to get back on track with a visit to Ohio State coming next week.
Curry: Eight tackles (three for loss) and two sacks
With TCU's offense struggling without star quarterback Trevone Boykin, the banged-up Horned Frogs defense needed someone to step up in order to avoid an embarrassing upset loss to winless Kansas.
Aaron Curry became that player for TCU, as he came up with three tackles for loss and two sacks on the Jayhawks. The former Nebraska Cornhusker has been one of the most consistent defensive players this season for TCU, and it showed Saturday in a game full of frustrations.
"Curry was awesome for a TCU defense that finally generated some pressure on the quarterback, as he basically lived in the backfield against Kansas," SB Nation's Frogs 'O War blog noted. "With the secondary continuing to struggle, the defensive line's ability to pressure the QB is paramount—and for the first time in a long time, they delivered, led by the Nebraska transfer Curry."
Second Team: Larry Ogunjobi (Charlotte) and Demond Tucker (Iowa State)
Ogunjobi: 10 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks
Tucker: Eight tackles (four for loss), two sacks and one forced fumble
Larry Ogunjobi had one of the best defensive stat lines of Week 11, pitching in 4.5 tackles for loss in Charlotte's close Conference USA loss to UTSA. Demond Tucker also starred in defeat, coming up with several huge plays for Iowa State against undefeated Oklahoma State.
Outside Linebackers: Nick Kwiatkoski (WVU) and Jatavis Brown (Akron)
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Kwiatkoski: Nine tackles (one for loss), one INT, one forced fumble and one pass breakup
The other big name for the West Virginia defense Saturday was senior linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski, who made big play after big play for the Mountaineers against Texas.
"The Mountaineers got a heck of a day from their reliable senior leader," Max Olson of ESPN.com wrote. "Kwiatkoski racked up a team-high nine tackles (seven of them solo stops), plus a forced fumble and a fourth-quarter interception of Jerrod Heard that helped kill Texas’ final comeback bid."
Kwiatkoski also added his only pass breakup of the day on a crucial third down early in the fourth quarter, and the Mountaineers would pick off Heard on their next play. He was all over the place Saturday, and he's a huge reason why WVU was able to tack on another important Big 12 win.
Brown: 11 tackles (4.5 for loss), three sacks, one INT, one forced fumble and one pass breakup
Yes, Jatavis Brown's big day for Akron came against a two-win Miami of Ohio team. However, there's no denying Brown had one of the single-best stat lines of any FBS player in Week 11.
Four-and-a-half of Brown's team-high 11 tackles went for a loss, and three of them were sacks. He also forced two turnovers of his own, an interception and a fumble, in the first half for the Zips.
Most importantly, Brown's huge day helped Akron earn its fifth win of the season, putting Terry Bowden's team just one victory away from achieving bowl eligibility. Akron, which has gone 5-7 in back-to-back seasons under Bowden, hasn't been bowling since winning the MAC in 2005.
Second Team: Antonio Longino (Arizona State) and Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame)
Longino: Seven tackles (four for loss) and two sacks
Smith: 14 tackles (one for loss) and one pass breakup
Antonio Longino starred at less than 100 percent Saturday, coming up with four huge tackles for loss in Arizona State's comeback win over Washington. Jaylon Smith was once again a tackle machine for Notre Dame, posting 14 takedowns as the Irish defense held Wake Forest to seven points.
Inside Linebacker: Elandon Roberts (Houston)
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18 tackles (two for loss), one sack and one INT
Elandon Roberts has been making big plays all season for Houston, but none were bigger than the ones he came up with in the Cougars' huge comeback victory over Memphis on Saturday night.
Roberts had a team-high 18 tackles, a sack and an interception of the nearly flawless Paxton Lynch in the fourth quarter. That pick set up a quick touchdown drive that helped cut the Tigers' lead to six points. Roberts and the defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive, and Houston would go on to take the lead and win the game.
"Memphis was dominant offensively for much of the day, piling up 490 yards, but didn't take care of the ball when it mattered most," Sam Khan Jr. of ESPN.com wrote. "Two fourth-quarter turnovers proved costly."
Second Team: Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State)
14 tackles (two for loss) and 0.5 sacks
Week 11 featured plenty of big-time performances from inside linebackers all over the country, but let's highlight Ohio State star Raekwon McMillan. The Buckeye recorded double-digit tackles for the third time this year, and he pitched in a season-high two behind the line of scrimmage.
Cornerbacks: Jordan Thomas (Oklahoma) and Marlon Humphrey (Alabama)
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Thomas: Four tackles
Oklahoma defensive back Zack Sanchez was once the best corner on his team and perhaps the entire Big 12. As Ryan Aber of the Oklahoman notes, he's handed that distinction over to teammate Jordan Thomas.
"JT's the best corner in the Big 12 right now by far and one of the best in the country," Sanchez said, per Aber. "That was a big thing for him. Once he got his confidence down, his ability speaks for itself. He has all the intangibles. He's a smart, instinctive player. He's big. He got in Corey's face and did his job."
"Corey" in this case was Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman, who only had three catches for 51 yards as Thomas locked him down for most of the game. Coleman, a Heisman contender, had at least a touchdown and 85 yards in every game this season. He got neither against Thomas.
Humphrey: Three tackles and one INT
Marlon Humphrey, one of the talented freshmen defensive backs in the Alabama secondary, handed Dak Prescott his second interception of the season and erased any hopes of a late Mississippi State rally Saturday evening. In other words, the cowbells were "silenced," according to Roll Tide Roll:
"Silencing the cowbells @marlon_humphrey #RollTide pic.twitter.com/ckComlhhQp
— Roll Tide Roll (@CrimsonTider74) November 15, 2015"
With Alabama's defensive front unloading on Prescott, the secondary held the Mississippi State star to just 22 completions on 43 attempts Saturday. Prescott didn't find the end zone through the air, and he paid for a tight throw by the leaping Humphrey, who played a great game.
Second Team: Savion Brown (UL-Lafayette) and Riyahd Jones (Georgia Southern)
Brown: Seven tackles, one INT, one TD and one pass breakup
Jones: One tackle, one INT and one TD
Two of the longest pick-sixes of the weekend came from the Sun Belt Conference. Savion Brown couldn't pull out the win for his Ragin' Cajuns, but his 86-yard interception return gave ULL a fourth-quarter lead on South Alabama. Riyahd Jones went for 65 on his pick-six in Georgia Southern's impressive 45-10 blowout of Troy.
Safeties: Oren Burks (Vanderbilt) and Nate Gerry (Nebraska)
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Burks: Three tackles, two INTs and one TD
Oren Burks provided two takeaways for Vanderbilt on Saturday against Kentucky, and he produced some much-needed points for a team that struggles to move the ball effectively.
Burks picked off two passes—one from each Kentucky quarterback—in the second quarter, and he returned his second interception for 30 yards and a touchdown. Burks assisted Vanderbilt in taking a four-point lead with that play, and the Commodores would hold onto it in a 21-17 victory in Nashville.
The Vanderbilt secondary held Kentucky to 124 yards through the air, and starter Patrick Towles completed just 10 of 26 passes in the contest. Vanderbilt will have a tough time making a bowl this season, but it can boast another conference win, thanks to the play of Burks.
Gerry: Eight tackles, one INT and two pass breakups
Nate Gerry has been a machine for the Nebraska defense these last two seasons, even when the Huskers weren't getting the results they wanted on the scoreboard. On Saturday, Nebraska shut down Rutgers 31-14, and Gerry had a huge hand in that strong defensive showing.
Gerry had a team high in both tackles and pass breakups, and he picked off a pass late in the fourth quarter to help put a bow on the Huskers' 17-point victory. With back-to-back wins in Big Ten play, Nebraska has a shot at making a bowl game with a huge upset win against Iowa in two weeks.
"We just sat around the locker room and everyone looked in each other’s eyes," Gerry said, per Tom Shatel of the Omaha World-Herald. "We all just knew. This had to change."
Second Team: Fellonte Misher (Old Dominion) and Anthony Nixon (Maryland)
Misher: Seven tackles and two INTs
Nixon: Seven tackles, two INTs and one forced fumble
Fellonte Misher came up with two huge interceptions—both in the fourth quarter—to give Old Dominion an important 10-point conference win over UTEP. Anthony Nixon came up with two interceptions in Maryland's impressive defensive effort against Michigan State, but the Terps offense was unable to take full advantage.
Kicker: Griffin Oakes (Indiana)
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4-of-4 on field goals (long of 51) and 3-of-3 on extra points
Indiana couldn't pull off the home upset of Michigan, but that wasn't due to a lack of production from its special teams department—specifically Griffin Oakes.
The Hoosier kicker led the nation in special teams points in Week 11 by accounting for 15 points in the double-overtime loss. He put Indiana's first nine points on the board, including a 51-yard field goal that was the second-longest of the weekend.
In the third quarter, Oakes chipped home his fourth field goal of the day to give Indiana its first lead of the game. He didn't get a chance to hit a game-winner, but Oakes was automatic all day long for a Hoosier team that needed all the points it could get.
Second Team: Emilio Nadelman (USF)
3-of-3 on field goals (long of 47) and 4-of-4 on extra points
Emilio Nadelman had a busy day in an upset bid of his own, and USF was able to knock off a ranked Temple team at home, thanks in part to his 13 points. He drilled a 47-yarder just before halftime to put the Bulls up by a stunning 21 points.
Punter: Drew Riggleman (Arizona)
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Three punts for average of 47 yards (long of 51)
Drew Riggleman has been one of the most consistent performers of what has been a trying season for Arizona. So when the Wildcats were able to knock off Top 10 foe Utah at home Saturday night, it's no surprise Riggleman had a big-time night.
Riggleman might have had fewer yards per punt than his opposite number, Tom Hackett, but the Wildcat's punts meant a lot more in the long run. His final two punts of the game—on the last two drives of regulation—were both downed inside the 20-yard line.
Utah couldn't piece together a potential game-winning drive with that kind of field position, and Arizona was able to force overtime. The Wildcats would go on to take down the Utes in what would be a complete-team win.
Second Team: Johnny Townsend (Florida)
Four punts for average of 46.5 yards (long of 57)
Johnny Townsend is developing a Drew Kaser-like Heisman campaign at Florida. He drilled a pair of punts that went further than 50 yards, and none of his four kicks against South Carolina went for touchbacks.
Returner: Isaiah McKenzie (Georgia)
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One punt return for 53 yards and one TD
Isaiah "The Human Joystick" McKenzie provided both touchdowns for Georgia in a much-needed road win over rival Auburn, and his special teams magic turned out to be the deciding score in the second half.
McKenzie's fifth career return touchdown was a 53-yard beauty as he cut back a couple of times before jetting past a completely helpless Auburn coverage unit. McKenzie assisted Georgia in taking a 17-10 lead on that play, and the Bulldogs' other touchdown in the win came on a sweep to McKenzie in the third quarter.
"I saw he out-kicked his coverage,” McKenzie said, per Jason Butt of the Macon Telegraph. "I just had a feeling that if I could catch the ball and do what I gotta do. My teammates had great blocks and helped me get the touchdown."
Second Team: Ryan Switzer (North Carolina)
One punt return for 78 yards and one TD
While McKenzie matched Georgia's school record for return touchdowns Saturday, North Carolina veteran Ryan Switzer tied the NCAA record for career punt-return touchdowns, per the team's official Twitter account. Switzer's 78-yarder against Miami now gives him seven for his illustrious career in Chapel Hill.
Unless otherwise noted, 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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