FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION INDEPENDENT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK NAMED
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill, BYU linebacker Bronson Kaufusi and Notre Dame placekicker/punter Kyle Brindza have been named FBS Independent Players of the Week for games played through Saturday, Aug. 30.
Hill is recognized on Offense, Kaufusi is cited on Defense, and Brindza is honored on Special Teams. Brindza’s citation is the sixth weekly award of his career, while Hill’s recognition is the fifth of his career. Kaufusi is a first-time honoree.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BYU QB Taysom Hill
A junior from Pocatello, Idaho, Hill was responsible for a career-high five touchdowns in BYU’s season-opening 35-10 win at Connecticut. Hill completed 28 of 36 passes for a game-high 308 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing 12 times for a game-high 97 yards and two scores. Hill’s pass-efficiency rating of 177.1 represents the best single-game mark of his career.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BYU LB Bronson Kaufusi
A junior from Provo, Utah, Kaufusi was a difference-maker in his first game at outside linebacker, after playing two previous seasons at defensive end. Among Kaufusi’s four total tackles were two tackles for loss (both sacks); he also added two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery to his stat line. His two sacks tied a career high (set vs. Nevada last year). Kaufusi's fumble recovery came on UConn's first play from scrimmage; the Cougars scored a touchdown on the ensuing play, opening up an early 14-0 lead.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Notre Dame PK/P Kyle Brindza
A senior from Canton, Mich., Brindza had a busy and productive day in Notre Dame’s lid-lifting 48-17 home win over Rice. Brindza went 2-for-3 on his field goal attempts (converting from 29 and 36 yards), made all six of his PAT tries, punted three times for a 48.0-yard average, and recorded seven touchbacks on his nine kickoffs. Brindza's third-quarter field goal gave him 202 career points, making him the sixth Irish kicker to surpass the 200-point plateau. He finished the game with 12 points, giving him 207 career points, which stands fifth in Notre Dame history.
The FBS Independent Players of the Week are selected by members of a nationwide media panel, which includes equal representation from each of the independent institutions’ coverage markets.