Football

ACC Football Players of the Week for Week 2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced its Football Players of the Week following standout performances in Week 2. Honorees were selected by a vote of a select media panel.
 
QUARTERBACK – Gio Lopez, Sr., QB, Wake Forest (Madison, Alabama)
  • Pushed the Demon Deacons to a thrilling 38-36 double-overtime victory at Purdue.
  • Finished with three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing), 225 passing yards and a team-high 59 rushing yards.
  • Scored the game-tying touchdown in double overtime, a three-yard keeper, before rushing for the game-winning two-point conversion.
  • Prior to the final scoring plays, he connected with Carlos Hernandez on a fourth-and-15 conversion with the game on the line.
  • Found Bryce Kania for a 24-yard touchdown for the wide receiver’s first career touchdown in the first overtime.
  • Marked the second time in his career he’s scored two rushing touchdowns in a single game (vs. Louisiana on Nov. 16, 2024).
  • Became just the sixth Wake Forest quarterback since 1996 to throw for more than 225 yards, rush for more than 55 yards and score two rushing touchdowns in a single game, and the first to accomplish the feat since 2023.
  • Is one of only two ACC quarterbacks – and 11 nationally – this season to throw for 225 yards, rush for 55 yards and total three touchdowns in a game.
  • One of only two quarterbacks in the country with 575 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and zero turnovers thus far this season.
 
RUNNING BACK – Nate Sheppard, So., RB, Duke (Mandeville, Louisiana)
  • Rushed for 147 yards at Illinois to lift his season total to 374 yards, an average of 187.0 rushing yards per game, which leads all of FBS.
  • Scored on a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, giving him five consecutive games with at least one rushing touchdown.
  • Added a team-high five receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Recorded his first career game with multiple touchdown receptions, scoring through the air in both the second and third quarters.
  • Became the first Blue Devil with a rushing and receiving score in the same game since Peyton Jones did so at Miami in 2024.
  • With five touchdowns across two games, Sheppard has been responsible for 30 of the Blue Devils’ 48 points this season, accounting for 62.5% of the team’s scoring.
  • Ranks second nationally in total rushing yards (374), first in rushing yards per game (187.0), fourth in total touchdowns scored (five) and first in total all-purpose yards (434) this season.
  • The only FBS player over the last 30 seasons to record at least 350 rushing yards and multiple receiving touchdowns over his team’s first two games of a season.
  • The first ACC player to have 374 rushing yards or more and five touchdowns from scrimmage since Dalvin Cook in 2015 (422 rushing yards and five touchdowns).
  • This is his second ACC Running Back of the Week honor this season.

OFFENSIVE RECEIVER – Luke Reynolds, Jr., TE, Virginia Tech (Westford, Massachusetts)
  • Hauled in a career-high eight receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-21 win over Old Dominion.
  • Also averaged a career-high 13.5 yards per catch for the game.
  • The two-touchdown game was the first multi-touchdown game of his career.
  • VT’s offense was 7-for-7 scoring in the red zone and converted 10-of-21 third down attempts in the victory over the Monarchs.
  • The Hokies never trailed in the game and improved to 2-0 to start the James Franklin era.
 
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Nick Del Grande, 5th, LT, Duke (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
  • Helped the Blue Devils to a 2-0 start with a 31-27 road win at Illinois.
  • Key part of an offensive line that cleared the way for running back Nate Sheppard to rush for 147 yards.
  • Helped provide protection for Walker Eget to throw a season-high three touchdown passes as Duke snapped Illinois’ 10-game non-conference winning streak.
  • Posted the ACC's second-highest pass-blocking grade (87.7) against a Power Four opponent during Week 2, according to PFF.
  • Also posted Duke's second-best run-blocking grade (61.3) according to PFF.
  • Did not allow a sack, hit or hurry against Illinois for the game.
  • Duke’s offensive line ranks tied for third nationally in tackles-for-loss allowed per game (1.50) and fourth in total yards lost (seven).
 
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Mylachi Williams, Jr., DE, Virginia Tech (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • Tallied four tackles in a 44-21 win over Old Dominion.
  • Registered 3.5 tackles-for-loss, including 2.0 sacks in VT’s home win.
  • Also forced two fumbles in the contest, one of which led to a defensive touchdown for the Hokies.
  • Key part of the defense that recorded 14.0 tackles-for-loss and 7.0 sacks for the game.
 
LINEBACKER – Anthony Palano, Jr., LB, Boston College (Arlington Heights, Illinois)
  • Led Boston College defensively with nine tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack, and two interceptions in the win over Rutgers in the 13th annual Red Bandanna Game.
  • Recorded the first two interceptions of his career in the fourth quarter, becoming the first Eagle since 2023 to record two interceptions in a game.
  • Sacked Rutgers quarterback AJ Surace for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter to pick up his first career sack.
  • Helped Boston College stop Rutgers twice on fourth down in the win.
  • BC’s defense forced two turnovers on downs and recorded four interceptions, its most in a game since November 3, 2023, against Syracuse.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Kingston Lopa, Jr., DB, California (Sacramento, California)
  • Recorded three interceptions in the Golden Bears’ road win at Syracuse.
  • His first interception came early in the second half, when he returned 53 yards and set up a short drive that ended in a touchdown for Cal.
  • Returned his second interception 24 yards for a go-ahead pick-six with 4:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.
  • Sealed the win with his third interception by picking off Steve Angeli on Syracuse's final drive in the closing minute of the game.
  • Also added five tackles in the ACC win.
  • Leads the FBS in interceptions with four on the season.
 
SPECIALIST – Nolan Hauser, Jr., PK, Clemson (Cornelius, North Carolina)
  • Went 5-of-5 on field goals and 1-of-1 on PATs, accounting for 16 points in Clemson's 15-point win over Georgia Southern.
  • Tied his single-game career high in made field goals, matching a five-field-goal game against Florida State in 2024.
  • With his second five-field-goal game, he joined Nelson Welch (three) as the only kickers in Clemson history to convert five field goals in multiple games in a career.
  • His 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was his fourth career field goal of 50 yards or more, giving him sole possession of the fourth-most in Clemson history.
  • Moved past Mark Buchholz (37 from 2007-08) into the top 10 in school history in career field goals made (41).
  • Passed Bob Paulling (209) for 10th in school history in kick scoring (222).
  • Surpassed Wayne Gallman (216) and Andre Ellington (218) to move into 14th in school history in career scoring.
 
ROOKIE – Javian Mallory, Fr., RB, Miami (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
  • Delivered a breakout performance in Miami’s 77-7 win over Florida A&M, rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries.
  • Averaged 14.2 yards per attempt on the ground in the blowout win.
  • Ripped off a 52-yard run, the longest of his career.
  • Helped pace a Miami rushing attack that finished with 430 yards on the ground.
  • Miami piled up an incredible 856 yards of total offense, scored on 11 of their first 12 possessions and picked up 42 first downs in the home win.
  • Miami’s 42 first downs set an ACC single-game record, while its 856 yards of total offense were the second-most in ACC history, trailing only Florida State’s 858 yards against Maryland on November 7, 1992.