Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson, Navy cornerback Kwazel Bertrand and BYU punter Riley Stephenson have been named FBS Independent Players of the Week, for games played through November 17th. Golson is the honoree on Offense, Bertrand is cited on Defense, and Stephenson is recognized on Special Teams. The weekly honor is the fifth for Stephenson, the fourth for Golson and the first for Bertrand.
Stephenson, a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, is currently No. 2 nationally in punting average at 47.1 yards per punt. He has 23 punts inside the 20 yard line and 25 punts of more than 50 yards. The senior from St. George has a long punt of 61 yards this season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Notre Dame QB Everett Golson
A sophomore from Myrtle Beach, S.C., Golson set career passing highs with 346 yards and three touchdowns, as new No. 1 Notre Dame improved to 11-0 on the season with a 38-0 home win over Wake Forest. On the day, Golson completed 20 of 30 passes, with one interception; he also equaled a career-long completion with his 50-yard scoring strike in the second quarter.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Navy CB Kwazel Bertrand
A freshman from Antioch, Tenn., Bertrand tied a career high with seven tackles, including four solo stops, two tackles for loss and a sack, helping Navy to a 21-10 home win over Texas State. Bertrand’s biggest play of the day came with the Midshipmen leading 7-0 in the second quarter, as he sacked the Texas State holder on a fake field goal attempt from the Navy three-yard line. The sack and tackles for loss were the first of Bertrand’s Navy career.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BYU P Riley Stephenson
A senior from St. George, Utah, Stephenson punted five times for a 50-yard average in BYU’s 20-14 setback at San Jose State. The FBS’ second-leading punter, Stephenson hit the half-century plateau with kicks of 50, 57 and 60 yards, while his shortest punt of the night (a 39-yarder) pinned the Spartans on their 11-yard line—one of two punts downed inside the SJSU 20. Stephenson is a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award recognizing the nation's top punter.
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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.