Life is more vibrant with college football in it. The sport is officially back, and so is PFSN’s CFB Team of the Week. There were options galore for each position, but in the end, only a few could earn the top spots. Who were they in Week 1? Let’s find out.
Week 1 College Football Top Players
Quarterback of the Week: Thomas Castellanos, Florida State
Who better to kick off the Week 1 Team of the Week than Florida State Seminoles QB Thomas Castellanos? He made waves this offseason by saying, “They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me,” when discussing FSU’s opening matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The score was actually flattering for the Tide (31-17), as the game was never really within their reach, thanks in no small part to Castellanos’ timely completions and 78 yards and a score on the ground.
Running Back of the Week: Jevon Jackson, UAB
Before getting into Jevon Jackson’s heroics, let’s not gloss over the fact that the UAB Blazers were nearly defeated by the Alabama State Hornets. Were it not for Jackson’s ridiculous 17-166-2 rushing line, his squad may very well have left Week 1 with a loss to an FCS opponent. Instead, they narrowly escaped with a 52-42 high-scoring victory.
Running Back of the Week: Robert Henry Jr., UTSA
The UTSA Roadrunners were blown out by the Texas A&M Aggies, but the primary storyline from the game was Robert Henry Jr.’s explosion on the ground.
ROBERT HENRY HOUSE CALL
1 SCORE GAME IN COLLEGE STATION TO START THE SECOND HALF#BuiltToRise x @UTSAFTBL pic.twitter.com/FolUrr1vWf
— The American (@American_Conf) August 31, 2025
He did everything to will his team to a major upset, gashing the Aggies’ defense for 177 yards and two scores on just 16 carries — very impressive for him, but also very concerning for his SEC foe.
Wide Receiver of the Week: Chris Durr Jr., Wyoming
“Wyoming Cowboys” and “receiving production” don’t often go together, but Chris Durr Jr. flipped the script in Week 1. The Cowboys only defeated the Akron Zips 10-0. Yet, Durr managed to produce an 8-190-1 statline, using his speed to devastating effect on multiple occasions in the contest.
Wide Receiver of the Week: Danny Scudero, San Jose State
Now, “San Jose State Spartans” and “receiving production” do often go together. While Danny Scudero isn’t Nick Nash, he proved he can be an elite producer as well. Against the Central Michigan Chippewas, Scudero gained a whipping 189 yards and one TD on nine receptions, serving as one of the offense’s only reliable options.
Wide Receiver of the Week: Beau Sparks, Texas State
Beau Sparks was a late addition to the list, but when you score four touchdowns, it’s difficult to leave you off the Team of the Week. The Texas State Bobcats erupted against the Eastern Michigan Eagles, running up 38 points in just three quarters. Sparks was responsible for most of them, snagging seven receptions for 82 yards and the aforementioned four scores.
Tight End of the Week: Seydou Traore, Mississippi State
The Mississippi State Bulldogs’ 34-17 win over the Southern Miss Eagles wasn’t the smoothest, but don’t blame Seydou Traore. The former Arkansas State Red Wolves transfer hauled in five receptions for 77 yards and the game’s opening score (a 55-yard TD).
Flex Offensive Player of the Week: Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech
Haynes King and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets grinded out a 27-20 win over Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes. Although he struggled through the air (13 of 20 for 143 yards and one INT), King was the engine on the ground, churning forward for 156 yards and all three of the program’s TDs.
Offensive Tackle of the Week: Evan Link, Michigan
Truthfully, you could’ve picked any one of the Michigan Wolverines’ starting five offensive linemen based on their Week 1 destruction of the New Mexico Lobos. RB1 Justice Haynes had his way on the ground, boasting 159 yards and three scores on only 16 attempts. Left tackle Evan Link earns his spot here for his overall play, but also his involvement in this play alone:
Have a night Justice Haynes! Everything is coming up Wolverines. pic.twitter.com/X1HQJn0sxs
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 31, 2025
Offensive Guard of the Week: Adrian Medley, Florida State
Florida State’s offensive line played a major role in knocking off the Crimson Tide, specifically the interior. Guards Richie Leonard IV and Adrian Medley were consistently dominant against Alabama’s admittedly hobbled defensive line. Yet, Medly gets the nod here for his consistnent abiltiy to reach the second level and break his rushers free for longer gains.
Center of the Week: Connor Lew, Auburn
This isn’t an NFL Draft article, but you can’t discuss Connor Lew without discussing the OC1 in the class. The Auburn Tigers pivot only further cemented his position as one of the top interior linemen in the class vs. the Baylor Bears, routinely providing a clean pocket while also generating space in the ground game.
Offensive Guard of the Week: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
After beating the Colorado Buffaloes 27-20, Georgia Tech G Keylan Rutledge said, “We were ready. We were foaming at the mouth, just like we should. It’s a test. We’re two really good, different programs. And they’re a good team. But the tone was set. We knew what we were gonna do.”
Safe to say, like Castellanos, Rutledge walked the talk in Week 1, helping King and the ground game bulldoze the Buffs’ poor front seven all night.
Offensive Tackle of the Week: Ryan Bear, Pittsburgh
Is Duquesne a world beater? No, but the Pittsburgh Panthers can only play against the men in front of them, and Ryan Bear did so to near perfection in Week 1. Run blocking? Defensive linemen were moved against their will. Pass blocking? Bear served as an impregnable wall.
Edge Defender of the Week: Sidney Stewart, Maryland
All the freshman spotlight was on QB Malik Washington, but EDGE Sidney Stewart balled out in his collegiate debut. He secured the Maryland Terrapins’ first safety since 2019, which helped swing the momentum early in the second quarter against the FAU Owls — a quarter in which the Terrapins would go on to score 26 unanswered.
But Stewart wasn’t done there, adding another four more tackles and two TFLs to the statsheet, wreaking havoc in the backfield.
Defensive Tackle of the Week: Nathan Robinson, Tennessee
Nathan Robinson may only be credited with one sack against the Syracuse Orange, but boy, was it a good one. It resulted in a scoop-n-score for the Tennessee Volunteers, but Robinson wasn’t done there, posting two more tackles and routinely pushing the pocket to make the QB uncomfortable.
Look at Nathan Robinson enforcing his will for Tennessee!pic.twitter.com/gNDthYMugy
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) August 30, 2025
However, Robinson wasn’t the only Tennessee standout, with LB Arion Carter leading the team with nine tackles (three solo) and tacking on a sack as well. Like many on this list, Carter could be seen flying all over the field, making his presence felt at every level.
Defensive Tackle of the Week: Landon Robinson, Navy
Were the Navy Midshipmen expected to knock out VMI with ease? Yes. But was Landon Robinson expected to generate two sacks (arguably three)? No, and that’s exactly what he did. It wasn’t a dominant performance against elite competition, but it was a dominant performance nonetheless.
Edge Defender of the Week: Gabe Jacas, Illinois
Gabe Jacas is one of the top EDGEs in the 2025 NFL Draft, so it’s no surprise he gave Western Illinois the business in Week 1. The 6’3″, 275-pound senior bullied his way to two sacks, a half-tackle for loss, and a pass deflection, continuing to showcase his defensive versatility.
Linebacker of the Week: Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
Pass rush (two sacks). Run defense (multiple stuffs). Coverage (all receptions allowed in front of him and for few yards). You name it, Kyle Louis did it to his potential against Duquesne in Week 1. He is the definition of “playing with your head on fire,” and as one X user pointed out, Louis could be wearing the No. 9 due to his playstyle similarities with Bobboy Bouscher.
Linebacker of the Week: Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Junior LB Arvell Reese was everywhere on Saturday, recording nine tackles (four solo) and sacking Arch Manning once, consistently disrupting the Texas Longhorns’ offense. The athletic defender excelled in run support and coverage across the field, with Matt Patricia deploying him as a versatile chess piece to create chaos in the opposing backfield. If that’s what he did to Steve Sarkisian’s unit … look out, college football.
Linebacker of the Week: Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
HEEEEE’S BAAAACCCKKK. Coming off an ACL tear, many had begun to question Harold Perkins Jr.’s ability to make an impact, especially after a couple of seasons where LSU struggled to utilize him to his capacity. Well, nearly every question was answered in Week 1 against the Clemson Tigers.
Yes, Perkins is healthy. Yes, he is still a dynamic athlete. Yes, LSU may have figured out how to finally unlock his ceiling. Perkins pressured QB Cade Klubnik for the game-sealing incompletion, but he also wracked up a sack earlier in the game and was simply everywhere on the field, helping to limit the Tigers’ No. 4-ranked team to just 10 points.
Cornerback of the Week: Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
It’s not often you see a corner lead the team in tackles, but Davison Igbinosun did just that against the Longhorns (10). For the majority of the contest, he used his prototypical size and length to suffocate WRs on the outside. Did he allow some underneath receptions? Of course, but he rarely allowed yards after the catch and ever forced an incompletion to boot.
Cornerback of the Week: Jahiem Johnson, Tulane
The 2025 season is Jahiem Johnson’s first as a starter, but you wouldn’t be able to tell by his Week 1 outing against the Northwestern Wildcats. He deflected three passes on top of intercepting another and returning it 11 yards. It was teach tape in how to shut down a passing attack.
Fellow Tulane Green Wave DB Javion White also deserves a shoutout after picking off Preston Stone twice on his own.
Safety of the Week: Aamaris Brown, UNLV
I’m cheating here a bit — Aamaris Brown isn’t a safety in the traditional sense, and many would list him as a CB. However, he plays primarily in the slot, so I’m going to use that as an out to include him here because he deserves it.
Brown loaded up on the stats in Week 1 for the UNLV Rebels, posting four tackles (all solo), two sacks, three tackles for loss, and a 52-yard pick-six. Yeah, he got active against the Sam Houston Bearkats.
Safety of the Week: Preston Zachman, Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Badgers’ 17-0 win over the Miami RedHawks was far from impressive, but the same can’t be said for Preston Zachman. The safety single-handedly iced the game for the Badgers, picking off QB Dequan Finn on the RedHawks final two drives of the contest.
Defensive Flex of the Week: D.J. McKinney, CB, Colorado
D.J. McKinney was a large reason why King and Georgia Tech’s passing offense couldn’t get off the ground in Week 1. He was rarely targeted, and even when he wasn’t, he fell off his receiver and snatched an interception that most other CBs wouldn’t have even been in a position to make.
Kicker of the Week: Jackson Kleather, Bowling Green
If their Week 1 outing against FCS opponent Lafayette was any indication, the Bowling Green Falcons may be in for a long season. Nevertheless, they have one bright spot: kicker Jackson Kleather. He nailed all four of his field goals: three from 30-39 yards and one 56-yarder. He also booted through two extra points for good measure.
Punter of the Week: Angus Davies, Tulsa
Angus Davies needed just one play to make the Team of the Week: a jaw-dropping 80-yard punt.
If you look up “flipping the field” in the dictionary, you’ll find this 80 YARD PUNT BY ANGUS DAVIES #ReignCane pic.twitter.com/qPElI74bBS
— Tulsa Football (@TulsaFootball) August 31, 2025
The best part: Davies wasn’t a one-play wonder, as he punted three more times, dropping two inside the 20 and ending the night with an average of 50.8 yards per attempt.
Kick Returner of the Week: Da’Realyst Clark, Kent State
Not only does Da’Realyst Clark have one of the coldest names in the game, but he also began to make a name for himself with a 100-yard kick return TD against Merrimack in Week 1. It wasn’t wide-open running, either, as he had to maintain balance through contact while also trucking a defender en route to the end zone.
Punt Returner of the Week: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh
One punt. That’s all Desmond Reid needed to score an 88-yard TD, resulting in Duquesne simply punting the ball out of bounds the rest of the game. He wasn’t able to see much punt returning action later in the game, but he did add another 66 yards and a score as the Pittsburgh Panthers’ lead back.
