Pac-12 Football had big offensive performances, with three teams (Oregon, Washington, Utah) scoring over 45 points. Multiple receivers and running backs found the pay-dirt multiple times. These top-athletes displayed powerful running, big-play ability, and creativity to make the Pac-12 Football’s Best Offensive Performances list.
While many Pac-12 football players had big games, Unafraidshow only has room for one at each position.
Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 7: Quarterback
Though he’s a freshman, Jayden Daniels is ballin. He led the Sun Devils to a big win against the Cougars. He threw for three touchdowns, zero interceptions and showed off his mobility.
On Arizona State’s final drive, Daniels was poised as a senior. He executed play after play. Then, in a moment of brilliance and creativity, Daniels kept the ball and ran it in himself. It’s not every day Pac-12 football fans get to witness a freshman do this. Especially a freshman from the west coast. From San Bernardino to glory, it’s good to watch Jayden Daniels rise.
Running Back
Zack Moss – Utah
Zack Moss making it look easy early.
Midway through the first quarter and he’s already got 115 yards. Reeling off 91 yarders sure helps.#Utespic.twitter.com/MgbS4Jd8HD
On just five carries, Zack Moss ran for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. Yes, only five carries. Moss continues to be an underutilized, efficient runner. His five carries yielded yards of:
16 yards
9 yards
-1 yards
91 yard touchdown
6 yard touchdown
Moss didn’t even play in the second half. Why? Because the Utes didn’t need him any more. Although in a limited role, Zack Moss showed why he is in the conversation with Eno Benjamin for Pac-12 football’s best back. Moss is powerful and can take any carry to the house.
Wide Receiver
Brandon Aiyuk – Arizona State
#ArizonaState WR Brandon Aiyuk is one of the most underrated NFL prospects in this class.
Poor pursuit angle by the safety, but Aiyuk’s route speed forced the miss and did the rest. pic.twitter.com/smMjMdEm2w
There’s fast. And then there’s Brandon Aiyuk fast. As pointed out by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Aiyuk’s route speed makes him an “underrated NFL prospect” in the 2020 class. With his acceleration and long-speed, Aiyuk torched the Cougars secondary. After a performance like this, Aiyuk’s rank among Pac-12 football receivers surges.
Against WSU, Aiyuk made the most of each target from Jayden Daniels. With 8 targets, he secured 7 receptions for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. On those, he sped past the Cougars for touchdowns of 40, 86 and 36 yards. It was impressive!
It is nigh-impossible to remove Jacob Breeland from any best Pac-12 football list. He is just too good at football. Breeland is reliable and can turn any reception into a big play. On the season, Breeland leads NCAA tight ends in receptions-per-game and touchdowns-per-game.
He’s a large target with speed and route-running skills. Like many first and second-round tight ends before him, he’s a matchup nightmare. It’s why Breeland is on scout’s lists as a potential second-round NFL pick in the 2020 draft.
However, after catching a 22-yards reception, Breeland suffered an injury that forced him from the rest of the contest. Mario Cristobal said that his leg injury is serious and will cause him to miss the rest of the season. If healthy, Breeland will get drafted on Day 1 or Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Disagree with the Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 football players?
If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment, tweet Unafraidshow, or email us immad@unafraidshow.com with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.
After a tight loss against Cal in Week 2 of college football, the Huskies bounced back in a big way against Hawaii. They ousted the Rainbow Warriors 52-20. Similarly, UW’s football team had another dominant performance against Arizona after an upset loss to Stanford. Even though the Wildcats were on a four-game win-streak, the Huskies beat them 51-27.
For Washington fans, the pendulum swung back into favor and joy. But, unfortunately for UW football, the Ducks had a more impressive win against the Colorado Buffaloes. With Oregon coming to town this week, does Washington have a shot?
Yes, the UW offense scored five touchdowns and three field goals. But in the first half, against an Arizona team on a four-game win-streak, the offense didn’t show up. Instead, the Dawgs made numerous big plays on defense and special teams. In the first half, the defense and special teams had:
2 Sacks
4 Tackles for a Loss
One blocked punt
Two forced fumbles and recoveries
One touchdown
At the end of the half, the Wildcats still led the Huskies. Despite incredible defensive play, the Huskies were still down 13-17 at half.
The Huskies Offense isn’t Perfect, even with 51 Points
𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤 + 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 + 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙥
Take a look at last night's 51-27 victory at Arizona.#PurpleReign
Again, Washington decided to go for field goals. Early in the game, they played it safe. In the first quarter, they opted for two field goals instead of going for it. Fourth and five at the Arizona 10. Kick. Fourth and three at the Arizona 3. Kick. It’s unbelievable how often Chris Peterson and the Huskies exchange field goals for touchdowns. Think about it, if the Huskies converted just 50-percent of those fourth downs, they’d be better off. Yes, they tried to convert a fourth down on their first drive. They failed. But, math and analytics still show that it is optimal to go for it on the opposing half. After all, seven points is more than six.
Additionally, the Huskies offense was sedentary, out-of-sync, and inconsistent in the first half. In fact, the Husky defense outscored the offense 7-6 in the first half. Their six drives yielded results of:
Turnover on Downs (4 plays, 9 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 36)
Field Goal (8 plays, 62 yards)
Punt (3 plays, 5 yards)
Field Goal (4 plays, 0 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 8)
Punt (6 plays, 43 yards)
Punt (3 plays, 4 yards)
Granted, the Huskies offense got rolling in the second half. They scored five touchdowns and a field goal in the second half. Eason and company got rolling. Sean McGrew and Salvon Ahmed showed consistency. Ahmed scored three rushing touchdowns and McGrew showed his efficient and explosive skill-set.
Arizona couldn’t stop them. However, the 2019 UW offense continues to be risk-averse and inconsistent. They need to find rhythm quicker and be willing to go for it on fourth down.
Huskies Finally Involve Puka Nacua
It is about time. In 2019, the Huskies continued to pepper their senior receivers with targets. With Aaron Fuller and Hunter Bryant making plays, that’s understandable. However, with a quality option like Puka Nacua on the bench, it didn’t make sense to keep putting Andre Baccellia on the field.
After getting his chance, Nacua let his name be known. The 6-1, 204-pound freshman caught three passes for 97 yards. Considering Jacob Eason only threw for 243 yards against Arizona, Nacua accounted for 40-percent of the team’s receiving yards. Excellent. It was a breakout performance for the freshman.
Against Oregon, the Huskies will be tested. The Ducks defense is elite. They’ve held opponents to 52 points in 6 games. But, more impressively, the Ducks haven’t let anyone score more than 7 points in their last five games. Because the Huskies offense has been hit-or-miss this season, Eason and company have to be on point.
Additionally, Justin Herbert and the Ducks offense continues to play well. Herbert has a touchdown in his last 34 games and Oregon has a top-5 offensive line in the nation. In Week 7, two Ducks offensive lineman were featured on PFF College’s Week 7 national team. So, it’s not going to be as easy for the defense to make big plays as they did against Arizona.
Last, it’s important to remember that Oregon’s only loss is against Auburn. In a close game. Since week 1, they’ve won each game handily. The Huskies, on the other hand, have swung back and forth between impressive and unimpressive. In order to win or even compete against the Ducks, the Huskies need to:
Create open looks for Jacob Eason
Give snaps to young talent like Puka Nacua
Make clean tackles and capitalize on turnover-opportunities
Attempt fourth down conversions early and often
If the Pac-12 is anything, it’s a conference of cannibals. So, an upset win is certainly possible for the Huskies.
The UW football team just lost to a second-string quarterback who didn’t even complete the game. Davis Mills left during the third quarter and Jack West played the rest of the game… without throwing a single pass.
Against Stanford, the UW football team was lackluster and disastrous. They were outgained 482-294 yards and beat 13-23 even though they were 17-point favorites. With another unexpected loss, the Huskies lost their chance for college football playoffs and likely any chance at a Pac-12 title.
1-2 in Conference Games
In Pac-12 football games, the UW football team is not meeting expectations. Against Cal, at least they lost to a team that beat North Texas and Mississippi in the following weeks. There was also a lightning weather-delay. If the Huskies kept winning, the ranking system could brush the Cal loss away.
But come on. A loss to Stanford. Really? This was a Stanford team that had a losing record, lost its starting quarterback and was playing three freshmen on the offensive line. It was an inexcusable loss. Their conference game record is a reflection of a defense that lacks turnovers and an offense without creativity.
Is UW football’s conference record all Jacob Eason’s fault. No. Yes, he certainly has made mistakes and lacks consistency. However, his receivers, offensive system and personnel groupings aren’t doing him any favors. Against Stanford, Eason targeted Aaron Fuller 17 times for 9 receptions and 171 yards. On his other 19 targets, his receivers totaled just 7 receptions for 35 yards. With the pressure the Husky offensive line let through, Eason needed playmakers. But his receivers either couldn’t get open or dropped big-time throws.
So on a must score possession we get: drop by Fuller, our receivers run into each other over the middle, and Fuller falls down leading to a pick. Yup.
— Lifelong New York Giants Fans UW Dawg Pound (@UWonSBN) October 6, 2019
On the year, Fuller and Hunter Bryant are the most consistent receiving threats for Washington. In 2019, the Huskies just four receivers with 10 or more receptions. The targets are heavily consolidated. But worse, Andre Baccellia totals just 6 receptions for 41 yards and zero touchdowns. He’s the wideout opposite of Fuller and lacks Pac-12 production. Yet, the coaches are still putting him out there as a starter. Either he isn’t getting open, drops passes, or he doesn’t have chemistry with Eason. Bottom line, he needs to step up or step off the field.
If the UW football team wants to have more offensive success, they need to start experimenting with different receivers and play calls that will give Eason open looks.
Washington Huskies vs Arizona
Now, the Dawgs face off against an Arizona football team on a four-game win streak. After their loss to Hawaii, they beat Northern Arizona, Texas Tech, UCLA and Colorado. Yes, the Huskies are 9.5 favorites to win the game, but they were 17 point favorites against Stanford. Everyone saw where that got them. Arizona is a good team on a streak. They put up 35 points against Colorado last week. In comparison, UW’s highest point-total against Pac-12 competition this season in 28 points (against USC). This game is going to be tougher than expected and UW football fans might witness a three-game losing streak.
Chris Peterson and the UW football program need to figure out a better system, offensively and defensively. Whatever it is they’re doing right now is not working.
It was another week of chaos for Pac-12 football. No other conference does it better. Unlike the rest, the Pac-12 conference rankings rotate like a Game of Thrones season. Every week brings unexpected wins, losses, winners, and losers.
Pac-12 Football’s Best Offensive Performances
With week 6 set and in the periphery, the best offensive performances clearly stand out.
If any Pac-12 football fans doubted Tate’s arm-strength prior to this game, his 75-yard touchdown shred those doubts. Tate, against a competitive Colorado team, was exceptional. He went 31 for 41 with three touchdowns and just one interception. In addition to that 75-yard bomb, Tate showed strength, touch, and precision. Unlike UW’s consolidated target share, Tate completed passes to 11 different receivers. Of those, five receivers had at least three receptions. Khalil Tate was a top-notch quarterback against Colorado.
Additionally, he displayed his dual-threat capability. On third and six, with just 57 seconds left, Tate ended the game with his legs. He rushed for 7 yards, a first down, and the win. Well done Khalil Tate.
Against the 15th-ranked Washington football team, Cameron Scarlett was productive and consistent. He carried the ball 33 times for 151 yards and one touchdown and upset the ranked, Pac-12 football opponent. Additionally, he caught two receptions for 32 yards. It was a good night for the senior back.
But most importantly, Scarlett was a closer. In the fourth quarter, without quarterback Davis Mills, Stanford elected to run the ball. Repeatedly. Other than when Ryan Bowman sacked Jack West, Scarlett rushed every offensive play of Stanford’s final two drives. 12 rushes on 13 plays. Those two drives took up nearly eight minutes of possession. Additionally, they resulted in a field goal (10-point lead) and a punt, placed at the Washington 17 with 54 seconds left. Scarlett closed that game for Stanford.
Best Wide Receiver Performance
Tony Brown – Colorado
One play after a 49-yard hookup from Montez, @tonybrownxviii takes it in by himself. He's becoming a cheat code.
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 5, 2019
Even though Colorado lost, Tony Brown can’t be blamed. He was, yet again, Colorado’s best player. He secured all 10 targets for 141 yards. 10 targets and 10 receptions. If only the Huskies had those hands.
On top of that, Tony Brown took an end-around for a 15-yard touchdown. He followed blocks, eluded defenders, stiff-armed a would-be-tackler, and earned that touchdown. His talent is becoming more and more apparent. He’s one of the best Pac-12 football receivers out there and is displaying versatility and reliability.
Best Tight End Performance
Jacob Breeland – Oregon
Senior Jacob Breeland is the national leader among tight ends with five touchdowns this season.
His reliability has been crucial, catching 18 of his 21 targets this season.
Against Cal, Jacob Breeland was Justin Herbert’s favorite target. 5 receptions for 87 yards. Most don’t expect to see a tight end lead his team in receptions and yards. Especially not with 17.4 yards-per-reception. But Breeland is a different type of beast for the Pac-12 football conference.
Disagree with the Best Pac-12 football players list?
If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment, tweet Unafraidshow, or email us immad@unafraidshow.com with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.
To think, just a few weeks ago UW football was down and out. But, with another big win, Washington launched itself two spots to No.15 in the nation. Ahead of them, Oregon sits a No.13, eyeing a chance to claim the Pac-12. Did UW football prove enough with their win against USC?
Washington’s Defense Can Shut Down the Air Raid Offense
Against Utah, USC’s Michael Pittman Jr. caught 10 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. That aided the Trojans to an upset win. But, against Washington, all he could accumulate was 4 receptions for 64 yards and 1 touchdown.
More importantly, UW’s defense only allowed 163 passing yards from Matt Fink. They also picked him off three times in their win. If they want to compete against Oregon, Washington needs to slow down Justin Herbert’s offense. Against USC, they at least showed that’s possible.
No, they don’t always make it pretty. But, Washington is getting the W’s. that’s the first, key take-away. Yes, they allowed 212 yards rushing to the Trojans, but they only gave up 14 points. They actually had less offensive yards than the Trojans. However, the UW football team capitalized on turnovers.
With short fields, they put up points. Jacob Eason still shows a split-personality of elite-mediocre, but he didn’t throw any interceptions. He leaned on his playmakers and allowed Salvon Ahmed, Richard Newton, Aaron Fuller, Hunter Bryant and Andre Baccellia to take the load.
Though five games, Peyton Henry is 9-of-9 in field goals and 22-of-22 in extra points. The sophomore kicker is having a stellar season. Additionally, Joel Whitford is launching and placing his punts well.
With close games in their future, they’ll need Henry and Whitford to stay clutch and cold.
It’s Down to Oregon and Washington in the Pac-12 North
After Chase Garbers went down, Cal lost their hope of a 2019 playoff run. This further solidified Washington and Oregon’s race for first in the Pac-12 North. With their dominant win against USC, UW football is back in the top-15 in the nation. But, Oregon is performing equally as well on offense, with a stout defense.
In their next week, Oregon faces a free-falling Cal and Washington faces an equally undermined Stanford. Each should win handily next week. The real test is on October 19th when they face each other. Expect to see the Pac-12 North champion emerge.
Another great NFL week is over. Week 4 is in the books and there are plenty of excellent Pac-12 NFL performances. Here are the best, broken down by college.
Strong sequence of events there for #Titans defense, which forces a TO on downs:
Jayon Brown with a big tipped pass. Kenny Vaccaro, Reggie Gilbert good pursuit on an end-around to Julio Jones. Cam Wake with a PBU after good pressure. Then great penetration by Vaccaro on fourth.
Against Atlanta, Gilbert was an impactful force on defense. His ability to make open field tackles and pressure the quarterback was needed. Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons couldn’t get much going against the Titans.
Arizona State
Terrell Suggs – Arizona Cardinals
Timeless.
That is career sack #135.5 for Terrell Suggs; most among active players & just 11 in NFL history have more pic.twitter.com/twbLPCvP8B
At 36 (soon to be 37), he’s still making big moves. Against the Seahawks, Suggs displayed power and presence. Yet again, he was able to make big plays. His best play of the night was his strip-sack of Russell Wilson.
On the day, Suggs totaled 8 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 quarterback hit and 1 forced fumble. Brushing off his advancing age, Suggs put in another quality performance. Games like this remind us that he will always be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players to ever play.
For the first time this season, Aaron Rodgers surpassed 300 yards. In fact, he passed for 422 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rodgers also added 46 rushing yards, showing he’s still got athleticism.
But, more important, Rodgers came through in the clutch. Down 27 to 34, he led his team to the opposing three-yard line. With just 28 seconds left. It was another classic Rodgers performance.
First interception of the season for Aaron Rodgers and that’s ballgame.
However, Rodgers threw his first interception of the season. It was a heartbreaking throw, reminiscent to Russell Wilson’s interception in Super Bowl XLIX. Nonetheless, Rodgers showed us that he still should be regarded as one of the better Pac-12 NFL players.
Colorado
Chidobe Awuzie – Dallas Cowboys
In a tight game against the Saints, Chidobe Awuzie played well. In addition to 6 tackles and defending a pass, Awuzie got his first interception of the season. And it was a beaut!
More than just the plays, Awuzie has an incredible attitude.
On how he expects Cowboys to respond to first loss: “There’s only one way. That’s the name of the game right there. Adversity, we’ve all been through it in this league and in our lives. I think we know what type of men we are in this room.”
Marcus Mariota is one of the more controversial picks on this Pac-12 NFL players list. Particularly because he’s been up and down this season.
Though Mariota has been inconsistent this season, he played quite well against the Atlanta Falcons. Many criticize Mariota for having a game-manger, safe-quarterback attitude. But, he showed Sunday that he can still make plays and carry a team.
#Titans rookie AJ Brown with a 55-yard TD from Marcus Mariota.
On the season, Mariota has 933 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 7 passing touchdowns and 112 yards. If he is able to maintain this pace, he will end the season with
28 touchdowns
3,712 passing yards
Zero interceptions
448 rushing yards
Here’s to hoping he can finish similar to this stat-line.
Oregon State
Jordan Poyer – Buffalo Bills
Keep Jordan Poyer on the best Pac-12 NFL players list! He continues to play well for the Buffalo Bills. Most recently, against the formidable New England Patriots, Poyer and the Bills made it a game. Poyer swung in for some key tackles, big hits and even forced a fumble.
Honestly, it’s impossible for football fans to not like Christian McCaffrey. He continues to be the best dual-threat running back in the NFL. It’s also in his range of outcomes to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. He would join Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk in glory.
Bottom line, tune in to watch Christian McCaffrey every game.
UCLA
Eric Kendricks – Minnesota Vikings
Vikings Player Eric Kendricks and The Sheridan Story are once again inviting fans to help keep kids in Minnesota fed and healthy by making a pledge for every sack recorded throughout the month of October. Learn more: https://t.co/SUMA8bCF35
In their loss to the Chicago Bears, Eric Kendricks was all over the field for the Minnesota Vikings. He led the team with 12 combined tackles. For the few Vikings fans that are still watching, Kendricks is a bright spot in a dark chasm. He is a Pro-Bowl-caliber linebacker and needs to be recognized.
USC
Everson Griffen – Minnesota Vikings
No, this isn’t a Minnesota Vikings fan page. But, Unafraidshow still has to give props when they are due for our favorite Pac-12 NFL players. Everson Griffen is a baller. In each game this season, he’s hit the opposing quarterback at least once. Among NFL players, he’s one of 11 players with at least 8 quarterback hits.
Everson Griffen forces a fumble at the 16 yard line; hits Trey Burton and the ball pops out. Harrison Smith tries to track it down but Chicago recovers. Bears are challenging the completion.
Against Mitchell Trubisky, he managed to pressure him consistently and hit him twice. No, they didn’t get the win. But, Griffen still managed to put in a solid outing for Week 4.
Utah
Marcus Williams – New Orleans Saints
For Utah, Marcus Williams is playing at a near-elite level. Per Pro-Football-Focus, Williams has an overall grade of 89.3. 2019 is his season. He’s yet another defensive Pac-12 NFL player on our list.
Not only did Williams seal the victory for the New Orlean Saints, but he played every defensive snap for the Saints. He was incredible against the Cowboys.
Lattimore may be disappointing Saints fans this year, but Marcus Williams shouldn’t.
Washington
Kevin King – Green Bay Packers
Should Kevin King have been on Unafraidshow’s Week 3 best Pac-12 NFL Players list? Certainly not. The Denver Broncos picked on his inconsistency.
But, even though Kevin King has been inconsistent for the Green Bay Packers this season, he shut Alshon Jeffrey down in Week 4. King was the Packers highest-graded PFF defender.
Unfortunately for the Packers, King went down with a groin injury. Along with Davante Adams’ injury, the Packers lost key contributors in their loss to the Eagles. However, if he can come back quickly, King can add to an impressive secondary.
Can we, in our Pac-12 loving hearts, ever take Gardner Minshew off this list? Jock-Strap King (per Leonard Fournette), is playing out of his mind right now.
In four games (just three starts), Minshew has 905 yards, 7 touchdowns, and just 1 interception. Additionally, his pocket-movement is beautiful. How can anyone go against the mustache at this point?
Missed the Best Pac-12 NFL Players List from Week 3?
If you somehow missed last week’s edition of this, check it out here:
Another great NFL week is over. Week 3 is in the books and there are plenty of excellent Pac-12 NFL performances. Here are the best, broken down by college.
Arizona
Reggie Gilbert – Tennessee Titans
Finally! We can take Will Parks off this list. Granted, it’s still a stretch to name Reggie Gilbert a top performer. He only got eight defensive snaps in Week 3. But, the Arizona list of Pac-12 NFL players is quite small.
#Titans OLB Reggie Gilbert is active for the first time. Here’s a look at him working on pass rush off the edge. pic.twitter.com/u2ufgBSXLu
It’s important to put his eight snaps in context. This was Gilbert’s first active game for the Titans. Also, in just 8 snaps, Gilbert managed to make two solo tackles. Not a bad debut.
Everyone saw it coming, but the New England Patriots still put in a solid performance against the New York Jets. Part of that win was Lawrence Guy. Guy continued to block the gaps, make tackles and take on double teams. He made Le’Veon Bell bounce the ball outside and didn’t let the offensive line get any push.
Cal
Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers
Against the Houston Texans, Keenan Allen had himself a game!
17 Targets
13 Receptions
183 Receiving Yards
2 Touchdowns
Allen did everything possible to secure a win for his team. And even though the LA Chargers los the game, Allen had the best performance of his career. 183 yards was also a career best. The Cal product shed his injury-tag last season and continue to be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players.
Colorado
Ahkello Witherspoon – San Francisco 49ers
Yet again, Ahkello Witherspoon kept doing his thing. He made it quite difficult for Mason Crosby.
49ers CB Ahkello Witherspoon is expected to miss at least a month. He was playing at an extremely high level, and will be impossible to replace. We take a look at some of the options the Niners have. https://t.co/Q0bXHoy039
Unfortunately for fans of the 49ers or defense, Ahkello Witherspoon is likely to miss a month. That’s a massive hit for the 49ers. Through three games, Witherspoon only allowed 13 targets, 5 receptions and 57 yards. His Passer Rating Allowed is only 32.9 (No. 5). Most of all, his plus-114.2 Coverage Rating is the league-best.
Witherspoon is the most important piece of the 49ers defense (or team) right now. Missing him is a big deal.
While his teammate and fellow Oregon-alum Arik Armstead was a top Pac-12 NFL player last week, DeForest Buckner got the glory in Week 4. He made defensive play after defensive play in a tight win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Buckner led his team with 8 tackles and also added a quarterback hit, a forced fumble and a clutch fumble recovery.
As good as Steven Nelson played in Week 3, Jordan Poyer gets to sit above him on the best Pac-12 NFL players list once more. He’s just too dominant to leave out.
Against the Cincinnati Bengals, he racked up 11 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. It was an unbelievable game for him. Poyer is a big reason why the Bills continue to win.
Stanford fans! Look away from the college games and pay attention to Christian McCaffrey instead. His elite, NFL career continues to shine a bright spotlight on the Stanford name. Ignore the Stanford program freefall and watch the rise of Christian McCaffrey. He’s one of the greatest Pac-12 NFL players to step onto the field.
UCLA
Kenny Clark – Green Bay Packers
Kenny Clark was ROCKING this center off the ball all game… Lots of knockbacks!
Sometimes the hurries and pressures are just as impactful!! Teams don’t have time for all this long developing backfield action against an aggressive/attacking front like the Packers DL pic.twitter.com/147s8Qnwfl
Let’s keep Kenny Clark on the list. He’s one of the better Pac-12 NFL players and the best nose-tackle to come out of the Pac-12 in years. Against NFL centers, he continues to be a mismatch.
Clark is too strong and continues to overpower offensive linemen. Interior pressure is a huge advantage in NFL games. Clark brings that.
USC
Tyron Smith – Dallas Cowboys
Tyron Smith just went from 10/10 to 11/10 wearing the Pink Floyd T-shirt. (La'el Collins is next to him on the right) 👍🏿#DallasCowboyspic.twitter.com/dckhZQIJbC
This will be obvious. But, the Dallas Cowboys obliterated the Miami Dolphins. The tanking Dolphins were no match for the Cowboys. Nonetheless, Tyron Smith showed well and displayed why he’s an NFL great.
Against Miami, the Cowboys racked up 235 rushing yards on 34 carries. It was a piece of cake for the stellar offensive line. Leading the way, as usual, was Tyron Smith. It’s been another good year for him. On 206 snaps this season, he’s allowed zero sacks and only has one penalty.
Utah
Marcus Williams – New Orleans Saints
Time for the defense.
Marcus Williams is back as your top graded defender of Week 3!
Williams earned an 82.2 grade, playing all 83 snaps in the process.
Not only is Marcus Williams getting his second spot on Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 NFL Players list, but he was the Saints best defender in Week 3. On 83 defensive snaps. Wow. Marcus Williams glued himself to the field and helped the New Orleans Saints beat the Seattle Seahawks. Even though they had Teddy Bridgewater as their quarterback, the Saints made too many plays.
In the secondary, Williams continues to cover well and make tackles. It’s turning out to be a career year for Williams and he’s making a name for himself.
Washington
Vita Vea – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh absolutely mauled Barkley in the backfield – dropping him for another loss of one on first down.
Although the Giants ultimately won the game, due to Daniel Jones’ heroics, Vita Vea played well. On just 65% of defensive snaps, he consistently gave the Giants offensive line trouble. In addition to accidentally stepping on Daniel Jones’ helmet, he totaled two quarterback hits.
After getting hit twice from the 350-pound Vea, Jones must be feeling it.
If you haven’t already fallen in love with Gardner Minshew, better start now. Minshew must be in all Pac-12 hearts.
Against Tennessee in Week 3, Minshew put in a stellar game for his first NFL win. Buy in now to the Minshew hype because he’s going to be one of the great Pac-12 NFL players from WSU.
Missed the Best Pac-12 NFL Players List from Week 1?
If you somehow missed last week’s edition of this, check it out here:
Week 3 was great, but Week 4 of Pac-12 football was unbelievable. There were a plethora of upsets, heartbreaks and big-time players. Which offensive players made the biggest differences this week?
Somehow, even though Gordon threw nine, yes nine, touch down passes, Washington State lost. It’s incredible how good Anthony Gordon continues to be, but he’s anchored by WSU’s dreadful defense.
Yes, Washington State blew a 49-17 lead. But, was that Gordon’s fault? Here are the results of each Washington State drive in the second half:
Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
Anthony Gordon completes pass to Rodrick Fisher, then Fisher loses fumble
Punt
Anthony Gordon completes pass to Dezmon Patmon, then Patmon loses fumble
Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
Punt
Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
Anthony Gordon completes pass to Eason Winston Jr., then Winston Jr. loses fumble
Anthony Gordon sacked and loses fumble
Honestly, Gordon’s second half was still ridiculous. He still threw four touchdowns, but he was hampered by three of his players. Fisher, Patmon and Winston Jr. lost the ball and stopped the drives. Looking back at this game, people will inevitably remember Gordon as a loser. But, Anthony Gordon just gave Pac-12 football a performance of a lifetime.
Best Running Back Performance
Max Borghi – Washington State
Electric. Mex Borghi continues to impress with his versatility. As a runner, he’s capable of breaking 50-plus runs at any time. But, Borghi also adds a large threat as a receiver, evidenced by his 65-yard touchdown against UCLA.
This season, Borghi has 325 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 13 receptions, 169 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. He’s the type of pass-catching running back the NFL craves.
Best Wide Receiver Performance
Tony Brown – Colorado
In Colorado’s victory (yet another Pac-12 football upset), Tony Brown accounted for three of their four touchdowns. He caught touchdown passes of 29-yards, 31-yards and 20-yards. His touchdowns were each unique and displayed a well-rounded skill-set:
Scramble-Drill and YAC
Diving Catch in End Zone
Contested Catch in End Zone
https://youtu.be/t5SD4SNATeY
Best of all, this game was out of nowhere for Tony Brown. Currently, his career high in receiving yards is 333 yards in one season. Against Arizona State, he had 150 yards. Prior to this game, he totaled three receiving touchdowns. In his career! During this game, he had three. It was unbelievable. Laviska Shenault Jr. was out and Tony Brown had the best game of his career. What a story for Pac-12 football fans!
Best Tight End Performance
Jake Tonges – Cal
As easy as it would be to give this award to Jacob Breeland again, it goes to Jake Tonges. Yes, Breeland is certainly deserving with his two-touchdown performance. But, it was against freefalling Stanford. Tonges, on the other hand, made the difference against Ole Miss. With this performance, he helped Pac-12 football earn more respect.
Against Ole Miss, Tonges made all his money in the second half. His receptions were more than just the box-score shows. Here are the results of his three receptions:
On 3rd & 14, Tongues makes a 15-yard catch for a first downTwo plays later, Cal scores a touchdown
Tongues catches a 60-yard touchdown pass
Tongues catches a 13 yard pass, resulting in a first down
Who are the Best Pac-12 football players?
If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment or tweet at unafraidshow with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.
The NFL has not been able to beat him or shake him. Yet they won’t allow him to join them. Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has somehow managed to maintain his relevance at the beginning of each NFL season despite not being on an NFL roster. And he did it again — with a little help from Nike — when it was announced that his commercial with Nike won the Emmy for outstanding commercial at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Last September, Nike launched the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of their “Just Do It” slogan with Colin Kaepernick as the face of the ad campaign. Nike, the official sponsor of the NFL, and Kaepernick released a very inspiring commercial as a part of the ad campaign. In the commercial, Kaepernick charges everyone to “believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything”.
That is exactly what Kaepernick did. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback sacrificed everything when he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality. As a result of his protest, he lost his job as he has yet to sign with another NFL team. Last year, the commercial sent the sports community into a frenzy. There were those who supported the commercial and praised Nike for acknowledging Kaepernick’s courage. There were those who were vehemently against it and burned their Nike products to show their disgust.
However, the majority of people clearly loved the commercial as it won the award. It is Nike’s first time winning an Emmy since 2002. The commercial is certainly a deserving recipient of the award. Nike and Kaepernick surely inspired many with the commercial. Kaepernick is the embodiment of standing up for your beliefs even it means sacrificing everything else. Colin Kaepernick has got another major win in the midst of the NFL season despite not being on an NFL roster.
There were some incredible performances from the NFL in Week 2. While some colleges like Cal had a multitude of options for this Best Pac-12 NFL Players list, others like Arizona barely had one. Which alumni from your college had the best Week 2? Check out the list below!
Arizona
Will Parks – Denver Broncos
While Will Parks isn’t great, he’s not bad either. Parks was on the field for 82-percent of defensive snaps for the Broncos. No, he didn’t record any counting stats. But, as a strong safety, he doesn’t have to record stats to have a positive impact. Denver held Chicago to just 16 points. More importantly, they held Mitchell Trubisky to 120 yards. It was a good game for the Denver defense. So, it also was a good day for Parks.
All in all, Will Parks is a good NFL player and gets consistent snaps for the Broncos. That’s more than the rest of the Arizona alumni can say. Yes, he was on this list last week. But until someone else from Arizona can step up, Parks will remain on the Best Pac-12 NFL Players list.
Arizona State
Vontaze Burfict – Oakland Raiders
Even though the Oakland Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 28-10, the defense actually played well. They held Mahomes and company scoreless three out of four quarters. Against KC, Vontaze Burfict played 97-percent of defensive snaps. Win, lose or tie, he was out there for the Raiders. Burfict is a consistent, albeit dirty, NFL player. The linebacker racked up 4 tackles and a pass defense, in addition to being sent after Mahomes. No, they didn’t win and no he didn’t get any sacks or turnovers. But, it was still a good game for Burfict in his new home and why Burfict is one of the best Pac-12 NFL players this year.
We gotta give @TooLoose26 major props for protecting his QB from big scary meanie Vontaze Burfict on this play. Grown man move. pic.twitter.com/S1CoHhbTM3
Against the formidable Los Angeles Rams, Cameron Jordan returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown. Then, the refs blew it. Saints fans died a little more this week. Not only did they see their third straight game with officiating blunders. This time also came amidst a Drew Brees injury. It’s a bad time to be a Saints fan.
Nonetheless, Cameron Jordan is still a force to be reckoned with. His career makes a case for him to not only be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players this week, but all time. Even without the touchdown, Jordan accounted for:
5 Tackles
1 Tackle for a Loss
2 QB Hits
1 Sack
1 Fumble Recovery
This was also his second game straight with at least 5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits and 1 sack. He is unstoppable right now. Well, unless the refs get in his way.
Colorado
Ahkello Witherspoon – San Francisco 49ers
Yet again, Witherspoon highlights Colorado with exceptional defense. However, it wasn’t all pretty.
Ahkello Witherspoon drops a pick-six, kicks the ball and it drills a security guy in the head. He gets called for delay of game.
While he didn’t get the pick-6 in this game, he still made up for it with impressive play. Witherspoon totaled 5 tackles and 2 passes defended. But, his overall quarterback rating when targeted speaks volumes on his play. Ahkello was one of the best Pac-12 NFL players of any school in Weeks 1 and 2 of the NFL season.
With play like this, Witherspoon is making a case to earn a big paycheck. The 49ers desperately needed playmakers on defense the past few seasons and it seems Ahkello Witherspoon is stepping up weekly.
In another dominant, defensive win, Arik Armstead helped the 49ers cruise past the Cincinnati Bengals. In their win, Armstead played 43 defensive snaps. During that time, he was able to make 3 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit and 1 sack. He constantly frustrated the Bengals. The 49ers have a plethora of defensive linemen to create pressure (a lot of them that could become some of the best Pac-12 NFL players). And it looks like Arik Armstead is taking advantage of his situation.
In Week 2, the Buffalo Bills comfortably beat the New York Giants 28-14. They held Eli Manning to 250 yards on 45 attempts. He tried his best to beat them through the air, but threw more interceptions than touchdowns. One of which went to Jordan Poyer.
In their win, Jordan Poyer had 2 tackles, 1 interception and defended 1 pass. He’s had an excellent season so far. In 2019, Poyer is credited for 8 solo tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack and has only been targeted once. On top of that, the target didn’t succeed. So, he hasn’t even allowed a reception. It makes sense why his current PFF grade is 84.4. Jordan Poyer is the best Pac-12 NFL player on the Bills.
Harrison Phillips was an excellent interior defender against the New York Giants. He made plays on both Eli Manning and Saquon Barkely. Against Manning, Phillips finally got his first sack. Well, half sack. But still, that’s a big thing for an interior defender who’s job is to make defensive stops.
Against Barkely and the Giants run game, Phillips did what he does best: didn’t allow push and made defensive stops. But, as said above, Phillips also recorded 1 QB hit, 0.5 sacks and 2 passes defended It was quite the game for the big guy up front.
UCLA
Kenny Clark – Green Bay Packers
There was not a bigger mismatch on the field on Sunday than Kenny Clark vs. Garrett Bradbury. pic.twitter.com/8GOkBnRqQp
Man. Kenny Clark had a game. He looked like an All-Pro against the Vikings. Clark consistently created havoc and pressured Kirk Cousins.
If you can get your nose tackle to get pressure like this in the red zone on a 3man rush and hurry a QB’s throw… It can give your defense tremendous flexibility
Keep in mind that Kenny Clark is a nose tackle. A nose tackle that pressured, frustrated and sacked the opposing quarterback. In their win, Clark hit Cousins twice, sacked him once and forced a fumble. He was a large part of their divisional win.
USC
Nelson Agholor – Philadelphia Eagles
On Sunday night, the Philadelphia Eagles lost DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffrey and Dallas Goedert to injuries. Other players had to step up and fill the offensive void. That player was Nelson Agholor. Granted, it wasn’t a perfect night for Agholor.
But, other than the drops, Agholor played well. On 11 targets, he had 8 receptions for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. Of note are his two biggest plays. The first, and his only touchdown of the game, came on fourth and goal. His hands worked there.
When the Eagles needed playmakers, Agholor made himself available.
Utah
Eric Weddle – Los Angeles Rams
This just in. Eric Weddle can still lay a hit. He layed the hit on Jared Cook in their Week 2 matchup, causing Cook to lose the ball and the Rams to intercept it. Keep in mind that this is just one week after Weddle took a knee from Christian McCaffrey and bled all over.
He’s an experienced veteran and is still willing to lay his body on the line. Against the Saints, he played well and helped stifle the non-Brees offense. This season, he has a 79.3 PFF grade, 12 tackles and a pass defended in 2019. If he manages to stay healthy with the hits he’s taking/giving, the Rams have a menace in the secondary.
Washington
Will Dissly – Seattle Seahawks
Will Dissly had himself a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 5 Targets
Against Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson trusted Dissly to make big plays. It was Dissly’s best game in his short NFL career. Aside from his first two weeks in 2018, Will Dissly has either gone unnoticed or was injured. Perhaps this is his year to connect with Wilson in a sans-Baldwin offense.
Washington State
Joe Dahl – Detroit Lions
For a Detroit Lions team that is constantly rotating their offensive lineman, Joe Dahl is playing well. On 117 snaps at guard, he hasn’t allowed a sack and holds a 71.6 PFF grade. He isn’t dominant yet, but he’s made a significant jump in performance from 2018 to 2019. The Lions need to keep him in more regularly and commit to offensive line continuity.
The Lions second best player yesterday per PFF? Graham Glasgow. The fourth? Joe Dahl. The 15th (!!)? Kenny Wiggins.
Why on earth are we rotating Wiggins in with Glasgow and Dahl again?
The Lions sure seem to be setting themselves up to lose Glasgow next year. I don't get it.
