College Football's All-Week 5 First Team: Top Performers at Every Position
School records, personal bests and repeat standouts headline the group of players who earned a place on Bleacher Report's All-Week 5 team.
Broken down by position, the list highlights college football's top statistical producers of the recent slate. Any player in a game involving a Football Bowl Subdivision team was eligible for inclusion, though the result of the game didn't matter.
Each player featured put up numbers among the highest at his respective position. Along with the stats, competition level, efficiency and clutch moments also factored into the decisions.
Don't see one of your favorite performances of Week 5? Feel free to add it in the comments section.
Quarterback
1 of 14
First Team: Nick Mullens, Southern Miss
Nick Mullens propelled the Golden Eagles to a 44-28 victory over Rice and soared to a college football best in Week 5. He threw for 591 yards, the highest mark by any quarterback so far in 2016.
The senior connected on 25 of his 36 passes, tossing four touchdowns along with his school-record yardage output. Mullens guided Southern Miss to 702 yards of total offense.
Second Team: Patrick Mahomes II and Nic Shimonek, Texas Tech
Patrick Mahomes II and Nic Shimonek had nearly identical performances in a 55-19 blowout of Kansas. Mahomes completed 27 of 34 attempts for 277 yards and four scores before a shoulder injury ended his night. Shimonek finished 15-of-21 with 271 yards and four touchdowns in relief. Together, that's 548 yards and eight scores, which is pretty good.
Running Backs
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First Team: Jamaal Williams, BYU
To say BYU missed Jamaal Williams in 2015 would be an understatement. No adjective would be too much following his explosive performance against Toledo, though.
Williams scampered for a school-record 286 yards during the thrilling 55-53 triumph. He scored five touchdowns.
"I'm grateful. But honestly, I couldn't do it without everybody blocking for me. The record belongs to the entire team," Williams said, per Dick Harmon of the Deseret News.
First Team: Dalvin Cook, Florida State
The Seminoles dropped a heartbreaker to North Carolina, but they wouldn't even have been close without Dalvin Cook. On 29 carries, the junior picked up 140 yards and three touchdowns. Cook grabbed six receptions for 106 yards, too.
"[Cook] played outstanding," head coach Jimbo Fisher said, according to Curt Weiler of the Orlando Sentinel. "He's playing really good football right now."
Second Team: Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams, LSU
Filling in for an injured Leonard Fournette, the duo of Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams slashed and pounded Missouri all game long. Guice racked up 160 yards and three touchdowns, while Williams totaled 130 yards and three scores.
Second Team: Shock Linwood, Baylor
Baylor nearly dropped a stunner at Iowa State, but Shock Linwood helped the undefeated Bears avoid their first loss. He tallied 237 yards and one touchdown on 25 attempts. Linwood gained 25 yards on the final drive to set up Baylor's game-winning field goal.
Wide Receivers
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First Team: Allenzae Staggers, Southern Miss
Six receptions is a solid night for a pass-catcher. Typically, you'd think he managed about 100 yards with that line. Allenzae Staggers would laugh at that notion.
Heading into the game, the junior college transfer had 10 catches for 170 yards. Staggers ended his Saturday with touchdown receptions of 75, 81 and 93 yards, totaling a school-record 292 yards.
"That's something I do on Madden," teammate Dylan Bradley said, according to Alan Hinton of the Sun Herald.
First Team: Jonathan Giles, Texas Tech
It didn't matter whether Mahomes or Shimonek was under center. Jonathan Giles kept catching passes.
The sophomore wideout reeled in 12 receptions for 212 yards and two touchdowns, scoring from 14 yards out via Mahomes and 59 yards on a pass from Shimonek. Giles boosted his per-game average to 141.3, which ranks No. 4 in the country.
Second Team: Jon'Vea Johnson, Toledo
Logan Woodside finished 30-of-38 for 505 yards and five touchdowns, and Jon'Vea Johnson was the quarterback's favorite target. Johnson—who never before had more than two receptions in two-plus college seasons—pulled in nine passes for 183 yards and three scores.
Second Team: Shay Fields, Colorado
Expectations are slowly rising for the Buffaloes. Shay Fields helped Colorado obliterate Oregon State 47-6 and improve to 4-1. Fields had seven receptions for 169 yards and three touchdowns, each of which came during the first half.
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Tight End
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First Team: Gerald Everett, South Alabama
South Alabama will fondly remember the 2016 season. After stunning Mississippi State in Week 1, the Jaguars pulled off a 42-24 upset against No. 19 San Diego State. Gerald Everett led the offense with 103 yards on five catches, including a 79-yard touchdown.
Through five weeks, only one tight end—Evan Engram, Ole Miss—has more receiving yards (479) than Everett (393).
Second Team: Nigel Kilby, Eastern Michigan
Nigel Kilby caught five passes for 92 yards and a score during Eastern Michigan's 28-25 win over Bowling Green. In the last 20 years, the program has managed bowl eligibility once. Kilby and the Eagles only need two more victories in seven games to reach the mark.
Offensive Line
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First Team: LSU
LSU excelled in its first contest of the post-Les Miles era. That's not necessarily a sign of things to come, but the 42-7 beatdown against a formidable Missouri defense was impressive.
And the Bayou Bengals did it without Fournette.
Guice and Williams combined for their 293 yards and six scores on the ground, and four other players picked up 125 yards on 14 attempts. Only Baylor (469) and New Mexico (446) had more rushing yards than LSU (418) in Week 5.
LSU converted six of 11 third downs, and Danny Etling finished 19-of-30 for 216 yards through the air.
Second Team: Ohio State
So much for a rebuilding season in Columbus. Ohio State looks fantastic. The Buckeyes hung 58 points and 669 yards on Rutgers in a shutout win. J.T. Barrett accounted for 284 yards and four touchdowns, and Mike Weber (144 rushing yards) spearheaded a ground attack that shredded the Scarlet Knights for 410 yards and four scores.
Defensive Ends
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First Team: Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Before Tennessee's improbable Hail Mary that followed Georgia's unlikely touchdown, Derek Barnett made the biggest play of the game. It's a shame nobody remembers it.
He shed two blocks and forced a fumble in the end zone, and Corey Vereen pounced on the ball to give the Vols a 28-24 lead.
Barnett tallied five stops with 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
First Team: Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern
Northwestern trudged to a 1-3 record in September, falling to Western Michigan and Illinois State. Ifeadi Odenigbo has clearly moved on, evidenced by his dominant day in a 38-31 upset of Iowa.
"Ifeadi is like a handful of our older players who were not very pleased with how they played in that first month," head coach Pat Fitzgerald said, according to Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune. "You get that fork in the road: You can feel sorry for yourself or you can do something about."
Odeigbo racked up four sacks and also pressured C.J. Beathard into throwing the game-sealing interception.
Second Team: Kris Williams, Texas Tech
This is not a drill: A defensive player from Texas Tech stood out in a positive way. Seems unbelievable, right? Kris Williams notched three sacks during the victory over Kansas and also forced a fumble.
Second Team: Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State
Edging Trent Harris of Miami for the final spot, Hercules Mata'afa picked up a seemingly pedestrian four stops. However, each of them came behind the line of scrimmage. Mata'afa officially received credit for 3.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hits.
Defensive Tackles
7 of 14
First Team: Adam Butler, Vanderbilt
Adam Butler played a major role in making Vandy's date with Florida a defensive struggle. He was a constant presence in the backfield, recording five tackles and two sacks.
Still, the senior wasn't satisfied because of one mistake.
"Even though I got two sacks, I missed a tackle on the goal line," he said, according to Adam Sparks of the Tennessean. "I would trade all the tackles and sacks just for that one play where I missed the tackle and they scored."
First Team: Albert Huggins, Clemson
Clemson did an outstanding job containing Louisville's Lamar Jackson, especially considering the difference in snaps. The Cardinals ran 37 more plays and had possession for 15 more minutes.
While Albert Huggins notched four tackles and a pair of sacks, consider this a credit to Huggins for finishing the plays while giving a nod to the entire defensive front, too.
Second Team: James Looney, Cal
Through five weeks, Cal has the 11th-worst run defense in the country. But when the Golden Bears needed a stop, James Looney provided the clutch play. He stuffed Utah's Zack Moss at the goal line as time expired, preserving a 28-23 win. Looney had eight tackles and one quarterback hit.
Second Team: Chase Appleby, Wyoming
Chase Appleby managed just two tackles, but we here at Bleacher Report are proponents of touchdowns by big guys. Appleby returned an interception 55 yards to the house, capping a 21-point second quarter for the Pokes in a 38-17 victory over Colorado State.
Outside Linebackers
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First Team: Psalm Wooching, Washington
It wasn't a surprise that Washington beat Stanford. But a 44-6 thrashing of Christian McCaffrey and the Cardinal? That was unexpected.
While the team limited McCaffrey to just 79 yards on 17 offensive touches, Psalm Wooching collected six tackles and three sacks—one of which ended a Stanford drive that reached the 10-yard line.
First Team: Ulysees Gilbert III, Akron
Akron escaped Kent State with a 31-27 triumph, and Ulysees Gilbert III headlined the defensive effort.
He accumulated a career-high 16 tackles with three stops for loss and one sack, adding one quarterback hit. The sophomore leads Akron with 55 tackles through five weeks.
Second Team: Haji Dunn Jr., Air Force
Air Force played a fantastic defensive game against Navy's triple-option attack, limiting the Mids to 57 yards on 38 rushing attempts. Haji Dunn Jr. totaled seven tackles with 2.5 sacks and one pass breakup, as well as a forced and recovered fumble.
Second Team: Sean Folliard, Northern Illinois
Sean Folliard helped Northern Illinois earn its first victory in a frustrating season. The senior registered a career-high 17 tackles—seven more than his previous best—with 2.5 stops for loss and one sack. Folliard also broke up one pass.
Inside Linebacker
9 of 14
First Team: Ben Boulware, Clemson
Save for a cheap moment in a pile after one play, Ben Boulware put together a masterful performance against Louisville.
Boulware accumulated a career-high 18 tackles—shattering his previous best of 10—with three stops for loss and one sack, recovered a fumble and broke up one pass. Boulware had high praise for Jackson after the loss, per the Independent Mail.
"[Jackson is] a freak athlete, and he exposed us in some areas," he said. "It's hard to stop him. He's probably the best player I've ever played against."
Second Team: Jarrad Davis, Florida
Jarrad Davis made sure Florida left the slugfest in Vanderbilt with an ugly win. He collected a career-high 15 tackles, and the senior's most noteworthy play was a pass breakup that resulted in the game-sealing interception. Davis defended three passes in the victory.
Cornerbacks
10 of 14
First Team: Channing Stribling, Michigan
How's this for an impressive defensive performance: Michigan allowed eight first downs to Wisconsin and forced nine punts.
While the Badgers picked on Channing Stribling throughout the game, he responded with a career game. He intercepted two passes and broke up two more during the 14-7 victory.
"That's just his skill set," fellow corner Jourdan Lewis said, per Brendan F. Quinn of MLive. "It wasn't anything special or anything uncharacteristic for him. ... He's a playmaker."
First Team: Jaire Alexander, Louisville
Penalties and turnovers plagued both teams on Saturday night. Jaire Alexander caused most of the problems for Clemson.
The sophomore intercepted a pass in the end zone, forced a fumble just outside the goal line and picked off another ball. Louisville turned Alexander's third takeaway into a touchdown and 36-28 lead.
Second Team: Maurice Smith, Georgia
Despite the loss, Alabama transfer Maurice Smith made a couple of significant plays for Georgia's defense. In the first quarter, he forced and recovered a fumble. Midway through the fourth quarter, Smith intercepted a pass in Tennessee territory. He had seven tackles and a pass breakup.
Second Team: Blace Brown, Troy
For the second straight week, Blace Brown snatched two picks. His first interception stopped Idaho from cutting the deficit to one possession, and Troy only extended its lead after that point until garbage time. Brown added a team-best six solo tackles.
Safeties
11 of 14
First Team: Zedrick Woods, Ole Miss
Ole Miss exacted a little revenge on Saturday, holding off a Memphis rally to record a 48-28 victory. Zedrick Woods helped the Rebels open and close the game with confidence.
In the first quarter, he intercepted a Riley Ferguson pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. Then, Woods snatched his second pick of the day on the Tigers' final possession.
Woods posted a team-high eight tackles with 1.5 behind the line of scrimmage and also broke up two passes.
First Team: Marcus Allen, Penn State
Penn State is running out of linebackers, so it's a really good thing Marcus Allen roamed the last line of defense on Saturday.
The junior accumulated a borderline-absurd 22 tackles with one for loss during a 29-26 overtime win over Minnesota.
"That's crazy," cornerback Grant Haley said of Allen's production, according to Ethan Kasales of Onward State. "You guys know he's a physical safety. He came down and read his reads right and I thought he played a tremendous game."
Second Team: Andrew Wingard, Wyoming
Andrew Wingard was a steady presence in center field for the Pokes. The sophomore collected a personal-best 17 tackles against Colorado State and tallied the first sack of his college career. Wingard leads Wyoming with 59 stops this season.
Second Team: Weston Steelhammer, Air Force
Eight players grabbed two interceptions in Week 5, but only one is a safety. He also has the best name in all of college football. Weston Steelhammer snagged the 12th and 13th picks of his career during Air Force's 28-14 triumph over Navy.
Kicker
12 of 14
First Team: Emmit Carpenter, Minnesota
For all the grief college kickers indirectly receive on social media, Emmit Carpenter executed all of his duties in a 29-26 loss.
The sophomore connected on four field goals (37, 35, 37 and 46), including a go-ahead attempt in the fourth quarter and critical kick in overtime. Carpenter knocked home both extra points, too.
Second Team: Tyler Davis, Penn State
You don't need to travel far to find the second-teamer. Tyler Davis nearly matched Carpenter kick for kick on Saturday. Davis drilled a 40-yard field goal just before regulation expired to force the extra frame. He also buried two other field goals and two extra points.
Punter
13 of 14
First Team: Johnny Townsend, Florida
Johnny Townsend might've been a co-MVP with Jarrad Davis. He tallied 51.9 yards per attempt on seven punts, but the little details are even more impressive than the fourth-highest average of Week 5.
Vanderbilt managed 14 yards on its lone return. Otherwise, five punts resulted in the Commodores starting inside their own 20. Townsend also booted a 48-yarder to the 25-yard line and 54-yarder to the 23. That's the definition of flipping the field.
Second Team: Eric Keena, North Texas
Eric Keena averaged 51.6 yards on eight punts, largely thanks to a 68-yard blast. Middle Tennessee opened drives at or inside the 20-yard line five times—with zero touchbacks. Two of Keena's other punts traveled 51 and 49 yards, settling inside the 30.
Returner
14 of 14
First Team: Charles Nelson, Oregon
Oregon's forgettable season continued with a 51-33 loss at Washington State. Charles Nelson managed to post a Week 5 high, though. The speedster took a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and averaged 31.7 yards on three other returns. Nelson also gained 45 yards on seven offensive touches.
Second Team: C.J. Sanders, Notre Dame
Notre Dame, on the other hand, took a small step in the right direction with a 50-33 victory over Syracuse. C.J. Sanders ripped off a 93-yard touchdown that capped a 23-point opening five minutes for the Fighting Irish. He added four catches for 39 yards.
All recruiting information via Scout. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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