First Quarter Opponents All-Star Team

Texas A&M is 3-0 and ranked 10th in the nation going into the weekend, but UTSA, Utah State and Notre Dame have had some quality individual performances in defeat. Here’s a look at the best players at each position:

Offense

Quarterback: CJ Carr, Notre Dame

In his first start at home, Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 293 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

Running back: Robert Henry, UTSA; 16 carries, 177 yards, 2 TD

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame; 23 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD

For all the hype Love and Jadarian Price (rightfully) got, Henry was the best running back A&M has faced. He led the nation in rushing coming into this weekend, so he has been tough for anyone to stop. Love gave A&M fits for the second consecutive year.

Tight end: Eli Raridon, Notre Dame; 4 catches, 85 yards

Raridon led the Fighting Irish in receiving yards in each of their first two games, then added another 5 catches, 105 yards and a touchdown Saturday against Purdue. He’s well on his way to being a first team All-American.

Wide receiver: Malachi Fields, Notre Dame; 5 catches, 77 yards

Brady Boyd, Utah State; 6 catches, 87 yards

David Amador, UTSA; 3 catches, 41 yards

You can pick any of a bunch of guys for the third receiver, because none have stood out. Field and Boyd, on the other hand, were the best their teams had by a wide margin.

Offensive line: I’ll just take Notre Dame’s whole line. They were the most competitive by a wide margin.

Defense

Defensive end: Enoka Miao, Utah State; 4 tackles, 1 TFL

Defensive tackle: Donovan Hinish, Notre Dame; 4 tackles

Defensive tackle: Gabriel Rubio, Notre Dame; 1 tackle, 1 pass deflected, 1 QB hurry

Defensive end: Junior Tuihalamaka, Notre Dame; 1 tackle, .5 TFL, 2 QB hurries

Miao was really solid on a line that got pushed around otherwise. Hinish was solid for the Irish, and Rubio and Tuihalamaka did a good job getting pressure on Marcel Reed.

Linebacker: John Miller, Utah State; 7 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks

Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame; 6 tackles

Shad Banks, UTSA; 7 tackles, 1 TFL

One person has sacked an A&M quarterback so far, and it’s Miller, who got both Reed and Miles O’Neill. He was superb for Utah State. Bowen laid some huge hits on Reed and some A&M receivers, but he’ll be remembered for getting beaten by Nate Boerkircher with the game on the line. Banks, who signed with A&M as a receiver, has developed a nose for the ball at linebacker.

Safety: Tae Johnson, Notre Dame; 6 tackles, 1 pass defensed, 1 punt block returned for a TD

Brevin Hamblin, Utah State; 8 tackles

Johnson didn’t even start for Notre Dame last weekend — he did today. The true freshman has proven to be a more effective safety than the veterans. Hamblin was fearless as he came up to make one tackle after another.

Cornerback: Leonard Moore, Notre Dame; 2 passes defensed, 1 INT

Noah Avinger, Utah State; 6 tackles, 1 INT

The two guys who have forced turnovers against the Aggies so far. Moore was fantastic as the rest of the Notre Dame secondary was lit up by Reed, and Avinger picked off O’Neill when he came in in the second half.

NICKEL: Karson Hobbs, Notre Dame; 4 tackles

Hobbs got the start against the Aggies last weekend after DeVonta Smith was hurt against Miami and did as well as he could, but got banged up as well. He did not play Saturday against Purdue.