FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION INDEPENDENT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK NAMED
Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees, Army linebacker Geoffery Bacon and BYU punter Scott Arellano have been named FBS Independent Players of the Week, for games played through Saturday, Aug. 31. Rees is the honoree on Offense, Bacon is recognized on Defense, and Arellano is cited on Special Teams. The awards are the third career awards each for Rees and Bacon, while Arellano is a first-time recipient.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Notre Dame QB Tommy Rees
A senior from Lake Forest, Ill., N.J., Rees completed 16 of 23 passes for a career-high 346 yards and three touchdowns as Notre Dame defeated Temple 28-6, in a game played at Notre Dame Stadium. Rees’ performance included a career-long 66-yard scoring strike, while his 15.04 yards per pass attempt represent the third-highest single-game figure at Notre Dame (minimum 15 pass attempts). Rees ended the day with a quarterback rating of 238.97.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Army FS Geoffery Bacon
A junior from Milwaukee, Wis., Bacon recorded a career-high 16 tackles, including nine solo stops, in Army’s 28-12 home win over Morgan State. Making his first career start at safety after starring as a linebacker for the Black Knights in 2011 and 2012, Bacon registered his 12th career double-digit tackle game.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BYU P Scott Arellano
A junior from Santa Ynez, Calif., Arellano made his FBS debut in rain-soaked Charlottesville, as BYU dropped a 19-16 decision to Virginia. Arellano punted nine times for an average of 40.9 yards per attempt; one additional attempt was blocked. Four of his nine kicks were downed inside the Cavaliers’ 20-yard line, while his long punt of the day traveled 48 yards.
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.