Football

ACC Football Players of the Week for Week 5

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its Football Players of the Week following standout performances in Week 5. The honorees were selected by a vote of a select media panel.
 
QUARTERBACK – Ashton Daniels, 5th, QB, Florida State (Buford, Georgia)
  • Set the Florida State single-game record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with five in the 38–7 win over Virginia.
  • His five rushing touchdowns tied the ACC single-game record by a quarterback, matching Georgia Tech’s TaQuon Marshall against Tennessee on September 4, 2017.
  • Tied Florida State’s single-game record with 30 points scored.
  • Was the first player since at least 1995 with at least 180 passing yards, 130 rushing yards and five touchdowns scored.
  • His 81-yard touchdown run was the second-longest by a quarterback in Florida State history.
  • Became the only Division I or NFL player over the last 30 seasons to record at least five rushing touchdowns, 150 passing yards and an 80-yard touchdown run in a single game.
  • Ranks third nationally in rushing touchdowns with nine, which is tied for the Florida State single-season QB record.
  • Also ranks third nationally with an average of 15.9 yards per completion.
 
RUNNING BACK – Tylik Hill, So., RB, Syracuse (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
  • Rushed 28 times for 140 yards, both career highs, in Syracuse's 42-41 overtime win over UConn.
  • Carried the ball 23 times and recorded 118 rushing yards in the second half to lift Syracuse to victory in extra time against the Huskies.
  • Was a key part of the Orange’s offense that recorded 509 yards of offense in the win.
 
OFFENSIVE RECEIVER – Umari Hatcher, 6th, WR, Syracuse (Woodbridge, Virginia)
  • Caught 12 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns – including the deciding score on a fourth-and-goal from the 17-yard line in overtime – to lead Syracuse past UConn on the road.
  • His 12 catches are the most by a Syracuse player since 2020, and are tied for the eighth-most receptions in a single game in school history.
  • His three receiving touchdowns are the most by a Syracuse player in a single game since 2016.
     
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – André Otto, Sr., LG, Florida State (Key West, Florida)
  • Started at left guard as Florida State ran for season-high 281 yards in the win over Virginia.
  • Helped clear the way for quarterback Ashton Daniels to rush for 136 yards and five touchdowns.
  • Played 66 of 67 offensive snaps, missing only the kneel to end the 38-7 win.
  • Recorded seven knockdown blocks and nine touchdown and/or first-down blocks.
 
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Marques White, 8th, DE, SMU (Glendale, Arizona)
  • Tied a career-high with three sacks and three tackles-for-loss in SMU’s 25-16 win over Boston College.
  • Was second on the team with seven total tackles.
  • Also forced a fumble that led to a touchdown.
 
LINEBACKER – Popo Aguirre, Sr., LB, NC State (Fayetteville, Georgia)
  • Recovered three fumbles in the Wolfpack's win over Louisville.
  • Leads the nation in fumbles recovered.
  • The Wolfpack scored two touchdowns and the game-winning field goal on the ensuing drives following his three fumble recoveries.
  • Also tallied six total stops in the contest while playing 57 snaps.
 
DEFENSIVE BACK – Jarvis Lee, Sr., S, SMU (Jacksonville, Florida)
  • Recorded a team-high nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles-for-loss in the win over Boston College.
  • Also forced a fumble, his second of the season.
  • Has forced seven fumbles over his career.
 
SPECIALIST – Jaden Jefferson, Fr., WR/RS, North Carolina (Oakland, California)
  • On his first touch of the football in his collegiate career, freshman Jaden Jefferson returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown against Notre Dame.
  • His kickoff return for a touchdown marked the first kickoff return touchdown for the Tar Heels since 2024.
  • His touchdown return helped Carolina trim the deficit to one at 21-20.
  • He is one of two ACC players with a kickoff-return touchdown this season.
  • He is also one of 15 players nationally with a kickoff-return touchdown this season.
 
ROOKIE – Taimane Purcell, Fr., TE, California (Aiea, Hawai’i)
  • Caught three passes for 102 yards and a touchdown against UNLV.
  • His 91-yard touchdown reception from Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was the second-longest pass play in California’s program history.