Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 3

Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 3

OFFENSE: Anthony Gordon, R-Sr., QB, Washington State (Pacifica, Calif.)
• Anthony Gordon completed 36-48 passes (75 percent) for 440 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception in WSU’s 31-24 win over Houston.
• The fifth-year senior was at his best in the third quarter. With WSU trailing 14-7 at half, Gordon completed 12-14 passes for 154 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Patmon.
• Gordon completed passes to nine different receivers.
• The 440 yards marked the third-straight game he has thrown for more than 440, as he leads the nation in passing yards (1,324), passing yards/game (441.3) and total offense per game (447.7).

Also nominated: Laviska Shenault, COLO; Justin Herbert, ORE; Khalil Tate, ARIZ; Champ Flemings, OSU; Michael Wilson, STAN; Tyler Huntley, UTAH.

DEFENSE: Myles Bryant, Sr., DB, Washington (Pasadena, Calif.)
• The Huskies’ defensive leader was all over the stats sheet as he finished with two interceptions (the first two takeaways for the Huskies this season) and a sack — the only sack of the game by the UW.
• Bryant also finished with four tackles, all solo.
• His two interceptions led to the Huskies’ second TD of the first quarter (making it 14-0) and to the UW’s lone field goal, which made it 38-0.
• Bryant’s quarterback sack came on the final play of the first quarter, on a third-and-8 play, after which the Rainbow Warriors were forced to punt.

Also nominated: Evan Fields, ASU; Lorenzo Burns, ARIZ; Bryce Beekman, WSU; John McCartan, OSU; Devin Lloyd, UTAH; Evan Weaver, CAL.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Greg Thomas, R-Sr., K, California (Petaluma, Calif.)
• Thomas made all three of his field goal attempts and both of his extra points in a 23-17 victory over North Texas to set a new career high with 11 points scored.
• Thomas has made 7-of-8 field goals and all seven of his extra points in 2019.
• Thomas is second in the Pac-12 and tied for eighth nationally with an average of 2.33 field goals made per game.

Also nominated: Cristian Zendejas, ASU; Champ Flemings, OSU.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Penei Sewell, So., OL, Oregon (St. George, Utah)
• Highest graded offensive lineman in the nation for week 3 by Pro Football Focus (PFF) with a grade of 90.9 over 78 snaps played at left tackle.
• Also had the highest pass-blocking grade in the nation at 91.4 by PFF.
• Helped Oregon throw for over 300 yards and rush for more than 200 yards for the second time this season in a 35-3 win over Montana.
• Recorded 11 knockdowns and didn’t allow a hurry, pressure, hit or sack on quarterback Justin Herbert.
• Oregon averaged 8.9 yards per rush on attempts to the left guard, left tackle and left end side.
• Herbert wasn’t sacked for the second consecutive game while Oregon improved to 7-0 under head coach Mario Cristobal when rushing for 200 yards.

Also nominated: Josh McCauley, ARIZ; Dohnovan West, ASU; Blake Brandel, OSU.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Jermayne Lole, So., DL, Arizona State (Long Beach, Calif.)
• Jermayne Lole was the leader among ASU’s defensive linemen with eight tackles and was responsible for ASU’s only sack of the game in ASU’s 10-7 upset of No. 18 Michigan State in East Lansing.
• Contributed to a defensive effort that allowed only seven points for the third straight game (ASU held MSU 32.5 points below its scoring average of 39.5 in first two games).
• After MSU moved into ASU territory on its first drive of the second half, Lole sacked MSU QB Brian Lewerke for a loss of four yards on first down.
• His QB hurry forced Lewerke into an incompletion on the following play. MSU would give up the ball on downs two plays later.

Also nominated: Cosmas Kwete, WSU.

ASU QB Jayden Daniels during the Kent State vs Arizona State game in Tempe, AZ on August 29, 2019. Photo by John Hays / fi360 News

FRESHMAN: Jayden Daniels, Fr., QB, Arizona State (San Bernardino, Calif.)
• Jayden Daniels led ASU on game-winning touchdown in the Sun Devils’ 10-7 upset of No. 18 Michigan State in East Lansing.
• With ASU down 7-3 and 3:34 remaining, Daniels moved ASU 75 yards in 11 plays against a Michigan State defense (came into the game ranked No. 13 in total defense/No. 1 in rushing defense) that had allowed ASU to gain only 141 yards up to that point in the game.
• On the drive, Daniels completed 4-of-7 passes for 52 yards, including a 40-yard strike to WR Brandon Aiyuk that moved ASU into MSU territory.
• In addition, Daniels rushed three times for 27 yards on the drive, including a 15-yard scramble for a first down on 4th & 13 at the MSU 28.
• Also led ASU to field goal in second quarter on 10-play, 48-yard drive that included back-to-back 15-yard completions.
• Daniels did not have any turnovers in the game against an MSU defense that came into the game No. 8 in the nation in turnovers gained.

Also nominated: Mykael Wright, ORE; Drake Jackson, USC; Cosmas Kwete, WSU; Darrius Smith, ARIZ; Austin Jones, STAN; Jesiah Irish, OSU.