Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 2
OFFENSE: Kedon Slovis, Fr., QB, USC (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
• True freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis made his first career start and led USC to a 45-20 win over No. 23 Stanford by completing 84.8% of his passes (28-of-33) for 377 yards and 3 TDs with no interceptions.
• It was the most yardage and completions and highest completion percentage by a USC true freshman quarterback in his debut.
• He became just the fifth USC true freshman to start a game at QB (joining JT Daniels, Matt Barkley, Carson Palmer and Rob Johnson).
• His yardage was the most by any Trojan since Sam Darnold’s 397 in 2017 vs. Texas and the second most by any Trojan true freshman in any game (behind Barkley’s 380 at Notre Dame in 2009).
Also nominated: Justin Herbert, ORE; Anthony Gordon, WSU; K.D. Nixon, COLO; Jermar Jefferson, OSU; Connor Wedington, STAN; Gary Brightwell, ARIZ; Marcel Dancy, CAL; Tyler Huntley, UTAH.
DEFENSE: Evan Weaver, Sr., ILB, California (Spokane, Wash.)
• Named Walter Camp and College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week.
• One of seven nominees for Lott IMPACT Trophy National Player of the Week honors.
• Equaled a career-high with 18 tackles that included a career-high 14 solo stops while adding 2.0 tackles for loss (-5 yards) and his first career forced fumble to lift Cal to a 20-19 upset victory at No. 14/12 Washington.
• Gave Cal back-to-back victories over the Huskies for the first time since winning five straight from 2002-06
• Moved into 10th place on Cal’s all-time tackle list with 260.
• Tied for first in the nation in solo tackles (20, 10.0 per game) and second in total tackles (30, 15.0 per game).
• Weaver is currently on the Bednarik Award Watch List. The honor is presented annually to the college defensive player of the year.
Also nominated: Bradlee Anae, UTAH; Nate Landman, COLO; D.J. Davidson, ASU; Greg Johnson, USC; Travion Brown, WSU; Casey Toohill, STAN; Avery Roberts, OSU.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Cristian Zendejas, R-So., K, Arizona State (Chandler, Ariz.)
• Filling in for junior Brandon Ruiz for the second straight week, Cristian Zendejas provided all of ASU’s points for the first three-plus quarters of its 19-7 win over Sacramento State, connecting on all four of his field goal attempts (36, 26, 35, 26).
• Was also successful on lone PAT attempt.
• Zendejas became the first Sun Devil kicker since 2016 to make four field goals in a game.
• The four field goals are tied for sixth in ASU’s single-game annals.
Also nominated: Greg Thomas, CAL; Alex Kinney, COLO; Ben Lennon, UTAH; Austin Jackson, USC; Daniel Rodriguez, OSU.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Austin Jackson, USC, Jr., OT, USC (Phoenix, Ariz.)
• In USC’s 45-20 win over No. 23 Stanford, Jackson anchored an offensive line effort that allowed true freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis, making his first career start, to pass for 377 yards with only 1 sack.
• The Trojans also rushed for 115 yards. Jackson had a key seal block to spring tailback Stephen Carr for a 25-yard touchdown around the left side late in the first half to start USC’s 35-point run to finish the game.
• Jackson also blocked a third quarter field goal (the second of his career) that would have brought Stanford within a point of tying the Trojans.
• Earlier in the day, Jackson was profiled on ESPN GameDay as a bone marrow donor this summer for his sister, who suffers from Diamond-Blackfin anemia, a rare blood disorder that leads to severe anemia.
Also nominated: Jake Hanson, ORE; Jake Curhan, CAL; Josh McCauley, ARIZ; Arlington Hambright, COLO; Blake Brandel, OSU; Darrin Paulo, UTAH; Abe Lucas, WSU.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Mustafa Johnson, Jr., DE, Colorado (Turlock, Calif.)
• In CU’s 34-31 overtime win, he was in on 8 tackles (7 solo), which included three quarterback sacks for 21 yards in losses.
• He had two third down stops (both sacks), a forced fumble that caused a turnover and a QB pressure.
• His third sack came in overtime that forced Nebraska’s field goal attempt to tie the game be from 48 yards (instead of 41).
• Johnson is currently on the Bednarik Award Watch List. The honor is presented annually to the college defensive player of the year.
Also nominated: Bradlee Anae, UTAH; Luc Bequette, CAL; Jay Tufele, USC; D.J. Davidson, ASU; DJ Johnson, ORE.
FRESHMAN: Kedon Slovis, Fr., QB, USC (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
• True freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis made his first career start and led USC to a 45-20 win over No. 23 Stanford by completing 84.8% of his passes (28-of-33) for 377 yards and 3 TDs with no interceptions.
• It was the most yardage and completions and highest completion percentage by a USC true freshman quarterback in his debut.
• He became just the fifth USC true freshman to start a game at QB (joining JT Daniels, Matt Barkley, Carson Palmer and Rob Johnson).
• His yardage was the most by any Trojan since Sam Darnold’s 397 in 2017 vs. Texas and the second most by any Trojan true freshman in any game (behind Barkley’s 380 at Notre Dame in 2009).
Also nominated: Mase Funa, ORE; Jaren Mangham, COLO; Jayden Daniels, ASU; Kyu Blue Kelly, STAN; Ben Lennon, UTAH, Grant Grunnell, ARIZ; Travion Brown, WSU.
