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SALT LAKE CITY —The first week of college football has concluded for all the local teams, with BYU, Utah and Utah State all getting a win.
Each team had its individual success, and as a result, the KSL Sports staff has chosen to honor four players this week with the Player of the Week award. Add your vote to the three polls below. Did the KSL Sports staff make the right call? Tell us in the comment section.
Offensive Player of the Week:
Tanner Mangum (BYU-QB) and Mitch Mathews (BYU-WR)
Playing in relief of an injured Taysom Hill, Mangum completed 7-of-11 passes for 111 yards and the game-winning 42-yard Hail Mary touchdown on the final play of BYU's 33-28 win at Nebraska. Mangum also ran five times for 26 yards. Mathews caught the game-winning score and finished with three catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
Honorable mentions:
Travis Wilson (Utah-QB): Travis Wilson led Utah's offense completing 24-of-33 passed for 208 yards. He added 53 rushing yards on 12 carries and a touchdown in Utah's 24-17 win over Michigan.
LaJuan Hunt (Utah State-RB): Despite poor offensive line play, Hunt was able to get 80 yards across 23 carries. While the numbers are not outstanding, Hunt looked every bit the three-down runner Utah State has been looking for.
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Defensive Player of the Week:
Justin Thomas (Utah-DB)
Justin Thomas was one of three players to pick off Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock. However, Thomas's pick six interception late in the game was a game-changer and led to Utah's eventual 24-17 victory over Michigan. Thomas added four total tackles in the win.
Honorable mentions:
Nick Vigil (Utah State-LB): Nick Vigil looked like a true leader on defense, finishing with 13 tackles and two tackles for loss. He held Southern Utah to under 2 yards a rush. Vigil looks ready to anchor an Aggie defense that will need to do a lot to help the Utah State squad win some games.
Fred Warner (BYU-LB): Warner's five tackles included two tackles for loss, and his fumble recovery helped swing momentum in BYU's favor during a pivotal second quarter in BYU's 33-28 win at Nebraska. The victory snapped the Cornhuskers' 29-year home-opening win streak.
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Specialist Player of the Week:
Andrew Rodriguez (Utah State-PR)
His 88-yard return with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter was the third-longest punt return in school history and won the game for Utah State. Rodriguez started the night as the third sting punt returner, but a couple of injuries forced him into action.
Honorable mentions:
Trevor Samson (BYU-P): Samson was 2-for-2 on field goals and 4-for-4 on PATs; his 35-yard FG into a stiff wind brought BYU to within one point of Nebraska late in the Cougars' 33-28 win in Lincoln.
Tom Hackett (Utah-P): Hackett kicked a 75-yard punt, which could have gone for more had it not gone out of the end zone. The kick was Hackett's career best. Hackett averaged 48 yards on four punts.
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