Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 5
OFFENSE: Tyler Huntley, Sr., QB, Utah (Dania, Fla.)
• Tyler Huntley was unstoppable in Utah’s 38-13 win over Washington State on Saturday night, finishing the game 21-of-30 passing (2 TD, 0 INT) for 334 passing yards.
• He added 31 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
• Huntley has 116 straight pass attempts without an interception.
• Huntley ranks seventh in the FBS and second in the Pac-12 in completion percentage (.746). He also ranks ninth in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 in yards per pass attempt (10.1) and is 12th in the country and second in the league in pass efficiency (179.3).
• Whether it was rushing or passing, Huntley accounted for 16 of Utah’s 29 first downs against the Cougars (55%).
• Huntley now has an 82-yard, 60-yard and 52-yard touchdown passes this year with his 52-yard pass to Samson Nacua against Washington State.
• Huntley moved into seventh all-time in Utah history with his fifth career 300-yard passing game. He has moved into ninth all-time in career passing touchdowns (34), sixth in career passing yards (5,405) and fifth in career wins (16).
Also nominated: Eno Benjamin, ASU; Isiah Hodgins, OSU; Salvon Ahmed, WASH; Davis Mills, STAN; Grant Gunnell, ARIZ.
DEFENSE: Francis Bernard, Sr., LB, Utah (Herriman, Utah)
• Senior Francis Bernard was a brick wall in Utah’s 38-13 win against Washington State, finishing with a game-high 12 tackles and an interception.
• Washington State entered the game leading the country in passing yards per game (499.5), was second in total offense (605.2) and fifth in scoring (52.8) with the Utes holding the Cougars to 252 passing yards, 313 total yards on offense and just 13 points. It was also the fifth straight game that the Utes have held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing.
• His 12 tackles were good for his second double-digit tackle game of the season and was the second time he has led the team in tackles this year. His interception return for 22 yards in the fourth quarter was his second pick of the season and sixth of his career (3 at Utah, 3 at BYU).
• Was an integral part in holding Washington State to just a field goal in the second quarter when he made a huge stop for no gain on a first-and-goal.
• His interception came with 5:36 remaining in the game after Utah was forced to punt for the first time, leading 24-13. Bernard picked off the WSU quarterback on the first play of their drive, returning it 22 yards to the WSU 35, eventually leading to Utah’s final touchdown of the game.
Also nominated: Hamilcar Rashed Jr., OSU; Aashari Crosswell, ASU; Colin Schooler, ARIZ, Thomas Booker, STAN.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Jet Toner, Sr., K, Stanford (Honolulu, Hawaii)
• Science, Tech. and Society Major Hit game-winning 39-yard field goal with one second left to hand Stanford a 31-28 victory at Oregon State.
• Made four extra points to move to 98-for-98 on extra points in his career.
• Delivered two kickoffs for touchbacks.
• Toner is currently on the 2019 Lou Groza Award preseason watch list.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Cohl Cabral, Sr., C, Arizona State (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
• Center Cohl Cabral Was anchor of offensive line that helped ASU run for 191 yards as team in the Sun Devils’ 24-17 upset of No. 15 and previously unbeaten Cal in Berkeley on Friday.
• RB Eno Benjamin rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns while QB Jayden Daniels ran for a career-high 84 yards behind the blocking of Cabral and the Sun Devil offensive line.
• The blocking of Cabral and the line also helped ASU move 75 yards and convert a trio of third down on the fourth-quarter drive that produced the go-ahead touchdown.
• Cabral has been named to the 2019 Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy preseason watch lists.
Also nominated: Nick Harris, WASH; Gus Lavaka, OSU; Darrin Paulo, UTAH, Goster Sarell, STAN; Cody Creason, ARIZ.
DEFENSIVE LINE: George Lea, R-Sr., DL, Arizona State (New Orleans, La.)
• George Lea had four combined tackles and one sack in ASU’s 24-17 upset of No. 15 and previously unbeaten Cal in Berkeley on Friday
• Was part of defensive effort that helped limit Cal to only 245 yards in total offense (only 11 yards in the fourth quarter), more than 120 yards below average of 366.5 per game.
• Lea’s play helped hold Cal to only 2.8 yards per rush.
• Sacked Cal QB Devon Modster for loss of four yards late in the first half.
Also nominated: Thomas Booker, STAN; Elu Aydon, OSU.
FRESHMAN: Grant Gunnell, Fr., QB, Arizona (The Woodlands, Texas)
• Completed 29 of 44 passes for 352 yards and one touchdown in win over UCLA in first career start.
• Threw his second 75-yard touchdown pass of the season on his TD to Darrius Smith.
• Had a QB rating of 140.6 Completed passes to 9 different receivers.
• Became first Arizona true freshman QB to win his first start since Willie Tuitama in 2005.
Also nominated: Cameron Williams, WASH; Jayden Daniels, ASU; Jonathan McGill, STAN.