Take a bow: The On3 players of the week for Week 6
Here are the On3 players of the week for Week Six of the 2022 season. Each week, we pick a player of the week in each Power 5 conference as well as an overall Group of 5 player of the week.
Everything being equal, more weight is given to big performances against “good” opponents.
ACC
Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda
The buzz: Abanikanda, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., put up eye-popping numbers in Pitt’s 45-29 win over Virginia Tech. He rushed for a school-record 320 yards and six TDs on 36 carries (8.9 yards per carry). His touchdown runs covered 38 17, 29, 5, 10 and 80 yards. He had one TD run in each of the first two quarters, then two in the third and two in the fourth. The six TDs tied a school single-game record set by Norman Budd in 1910 against Ohio University. It was Abanikanda’s fourth 100-yard game of the season and the second time in three games he had at least four rushing TDs; he had eight rushing touchdowns in his previous two seasons.
Big Ten
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
The buzz: It’s becoming old hat – the Buckeyes play, Stroud throws a bunch of TD passes. He was 21-of-26 for 361 yards and six TDs in a 49-20 rout of host Michigan State. It was the third six-TD game of his two-season career (he also threw six against Michigan State last season); it also was the third time this season with at least five TD passes in a game, and the 11th time in 18 career games he has thrown at least four TD passes. One play into the second quarter Saturday, he was 8-of-10 with four touchdown passes.
Big 12
TCU QB Max Duggan
The buzz: Duggan accounted for 363 yards of total offense and four TDs as TCU outlasted previously unbeaten Kansas 38-31. Duggan was 23-of-33 for 308 yards and three touchdowns, and also rushed for 55 yards and another score. TCU finished with 452 yards of offense. It was his third game this season with at least 363 yards of total offense and the third time he accounted for at least four touchdowns.
Pac-12
UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
The buzz: Thompson-Robinson is in his fifth season as the starter in Chip Kelly’s offense and, man, he’s making it look easy. He accounted for five touchdowns in the Bruins’ way-easier-than-the-score-would-indicate 42-32 win over Utah. DTR was 18-of-23 for 299 yards and four TDs, and he also rushed for a score. He helped the Bruins roll up 511 yards of offense and move to 6-0. It was his fifth career game with at least four TD passes.
SEC
Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo
The buzz: Mingo entered Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt with just 13 catches this season. He made up for lost time with nine receptions for 247 yards and two TDs in the Rebels’ 52-28 victory. The yardage total set a school single-game record. Mingo’s single-season high for yardage was 379 in 2020. He caught a 71-yard TD pass from Jaxson Dart midway through the third quarter and a 72-yarder from Dart midway through the fourth period.
Group of 5
Boise State LB Ezekiel Noa
The buzz: Noa, a sixth-year senior and fourth-season starter, was a one-man wrecking crew in the Broncos’ 40-20 victory over Fresno State. He finished with six tackles, all solo stops. He had two tackles for loss, including a sack, and added an interception and a forced fumble. Fresno State finished with just 233 yards of offense, including only 99 on the ground, and averaged a paltry 3.8 yards per play.