Charlotte, NC – The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced its Football Players of the Week following standout performances in Week 2. Honorees were selected by a vote of a select media panel.
QUARTERBACK – Gio Lopez, Sr., QB, Wake Forest (Madison, Alabama)
- Pushed the Demon Deacons to a thrilling 38-36 double-overtime victory at Purdue.
- Finished with three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing), 225 passing yards and a team-high 59 rushing yards.
- Scored the game-tying touchdown in double overtime, a three-yard keeper, before rushing for the game-winning two-point conversion.
- Prior to the final scoring plays, he connected with Carlos Hernandez on a fourth-and-15 conversion with the game on the line.
- Found Bryce Kania for a 24-yard touchdown for the wide receiver’s first career touchdown in the first overtime.
- Marked the second time in his career he’s scored two rushing touchdowns in a single game (vs. Louisiana on Nov. 16, 2024).
- Became just the sixth Wake Forest quarterback since 1996 to throw for more than 225 yards, rush for more than 55 yards and score two rushing touchdowns in a single game, and the first to accomplish the feat since 2023.
- Is one of only two ACC quarterbacks – and 11 nationally – this season to throw for 225 yards, rush for 55 yards and total three touchdowns in a game.
- One of only two quarterbacks in the country with 575 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and zero turnovers thus far this season.
RUNNING BACK – Nate Sheppard, So., RB, Duke (Mandeville, Louisiana)
- Rushed for 147 yards at Illinois to lift his season total to 374 yards, an average of 187.0 rushing yards per game, which leads all of FBS.
- Scored on a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, giving him five consecutive games with at least one rushing touchdown.
- Added a team-high five receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns.
- Recorded his first career game with multiple touchdown receptions, scoring through the air in both the second and third quarters.
- Became the first Blue Devil with a rushing and receiving score in the same game since Peyton Jones did so at Miami in 2024.
- With five touchdowns across two games, Sheppard has been responsible for 30 of the Blue Devils’ 48 points this season, accounting for 62.5% of the team’s scoring.
- Ranks second nationally in total rushing yards (374), first in rushing yards per game (187.0), fourth in total touchdowns scored (five) and first in total all-purpose yards (434) this season.
- The only FBS player over the last 30 seasons to record at least 350 rushing yards and multiple receiving touchdowns over his team’s first two games of a season.
- The first ACC player to have 374 rushing yards or more and five touchdowns from scrimmage since Dalvin Cook in 2015 (422 rushing yards and five touchdowns).
- This is his second ACC Running Back of the Week honor this season.
OFFENSIVE RECEIVER – Luke Reynolds, Jr., TE, Virginia Tech (Westford, Massachusetts)
- Hauled in a career-high eight receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-21 win over Old Dominion.
- Also averaged a career-high 13.5 yards per catch for the game.
- The two-touchdown game was the first multi-touchdown game of his career.
- VT’s offense was 7-for-7 scoring in the red zone and converted 10-of-21 third down attempts in the victory over the Monarchs.
- The Hokies never trailed in the game and improved to 2-0 to start the James Franklin era.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Nick Del Grande, 5th, LT, Duke (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
- Helped the Blue Devils to a 2-0 start with a 31-27 road win at Illinois.
- Key part of an offensive line that cleared the way for running back Nate Sheppard to rush for 147 yards.
- Helped provide protection for Walker Eget to throw a season-high three touchdown passes as Duke snapped Illinois’ 10-game non-conference winning streak.
- Posted the ACC’s second-highest pass-blocking grade (87.7) against a Power Four opponent during Week 2, according to PFF.
- Also posted Duke’s second-best run-blocking grade (61.3) according to PFF.
- Did not allow a sack, hit or hurry against Illinois for the game.
- Duke’s offensive line ranks tied for third nationally in tackles-for-loss allowed per game (1.50) and fourth in total yards lost (seven).
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Mylachi Williams, Jr., DE, Virginia Tech (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Tallied four tackles in a 44-21 win over Old Dominion.
- Registered 3.5 tackles-for-loss, including 2.0 sacks in VT’s home win.
- Also forced two fumbles in the contest, one of which led to a defensive touchdown for the Hokies.
- Key part of the defense that recorded 14.0 tackles-for-loss and 7.0 sacks for the game.
LINEBACKER – Anthony Palano, Jr., LB, Boston College (Arlington Heights, Illinois)
- Led Boston College defensively with nine tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack, and two interceptions in the win over Rutgers in the 13th annual Red Bandanna Game.
- Recorded the first two interceptions of his career in the fourth quarter, becoming the first Eagle since 2023 to record two interceptions in a game.
- Sacked Rutgers quarterback AJ Surace for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter to pick up his first career sack.
- Helped Boston College stop Rutgers twice on fourth down in the win.
- BC’s defense forced two turnovers on downs and recorded four interceptions, its most in a game since November 3, 2023, against Syracuse.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Kingston Lopa, Jr., DB, California (Sacramento, California)
- Recorded three interceptions in the Golden Bears’ road win at Syracuse.
- His first interception came early in the second half, when he returned 53 yards and set up a short drive that ended in a touchdown for Cal.
- Returned his second interception 24 yards for a go-ahead pick-six with 4:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.
- Sealed the win with his third interception by picking off Steve Angeli on Syracuse’s final drive in the closing minute of the game.
- Also added five tackles in the ACC win.
- Leads the FBS in interceptions with four on the season.
SPECIALIST – Nolan Hauser, Jr., PK, Clemson (Cornelius, North Carolina)
- Went 5-of-5 on field goals and 1-of-1 on PATs, accounting for 16 points in Clemson’s 15-point win over Georgia Southern.
- Tied his single-game career high in made field goals, matching a five-field-goal game against Florida State in 2024.
- With his second five-field-goal game, he joined Nelson Welch (three) as the only kickers in Clemson history to convert five field goals in multiple games in a career.
- His 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was his fourth career field goal of 50 yards or more, giving him sole possession of the fourth-most in Clemson history.
- Moved past Mark Buchholz (37 from 2007-08) into the top 10 in school history in career field goals made (41).
- Passed Bob Paulling (209) for 10th in school history in kick scoring (222).
- Surpassed Wayne Gallman (216) and Andre Ellington (218) to move into 14th in school history in career scoring.
ROOKIE – Javian Mallory, Fr., RB, Miami (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Miami’s 42 first downs set an ACC single-game record, while its 856 yards of total offense were the second-most in ACC history, trailing only Florida State’s 858 yards against Maryland on November 7, 1992.
Delivered a breakout performance in Miami’s 77-7 win over Florida A&M, rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries.
Averaged 14.2 yards per attempt on the ground in the blowout win.
Ripped off a 52-yard run, the longest of his career.
Helped pace a Miami rushing attack that finished with 430 yards on the ground.
Miami piled up an incredible 856 yards of total offense, scored on 11 of their first 12 possessions and picked up 42 first downs in the home win.