Week 2 of the college football season saw some standout moments of individual brilliance, even when some teams couldn’t bring home a win. What would a team of the most impactful players of this slate of games look like? I’m glad you asked. Introducing the PFSN College Football Week 2 Team of the Week, powered by our suite of College Impact metrics.
Quarterback of the Week: Ty Simpson, Alabama
Week 2 PFSN College QBi Grade: 89.7 (B+)
Answering the Alabama Crimson Tide critics in devastating fashion against Louisiana-Monroe, Ty Simpson was the highest-graded quarterback in Week 2, securing his place on the PFSN college football team of the week. His 0.95 pressured EPA per dropback and 50% “money down” conversion were among the best in the business, while he completed 100% of his pass attempts for 226 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
Running Back of the Week: Cam Cook, Jacksonville State
Week 2 PFSN College RBi Grade: 86.3 (B)
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks had a pivotal Week 2 clash against the Liberty Flames and emerged victorious on the back of running back Cam Cook. Rushing for 195 yards at seven yards per carry with two touchdowns, the former TCU back averaged 4.68 yards after contact per carry, boasted a 50% elusive rate, and had a high 14.3% boom or bust percentage. Dominant.
Running Back of the Week: Hollywood Smothers, NC State
Week 2 PFSN College RBi Grade: 85.1 (B)
One of the top returning college football running backs for adding value after contact, Hollywood Smothers continues to live up to his reputation this season. The NC State running back ran wild in the win over Virginia, tallying 140 yards and two touchdowns. 7.12 of his 8.2 yards per carry came after he was hit, a mark that ranked fourth among all running backs this week. He also had a 66.7% pass success ratio. Electric.
Wide Receiver of the Week: Javin Whatley, Arizona
Week 2 PFSN College WRi Grade: 93.2 (A)
If you spent the offseason wondering who was going to replace Tetairoa McMillan for the Arizona Wildcats, call off the search. Javin Whatley ripped the Weber State defense to shreds in Week 2, tallying 168 yards and two scores. More impressively, he caught everything thrown his way, added 51.3 yards after the catch, and led the nation in yards per route run (15.27).
PFSN College WRi adjusts for opponent, so this is less about beating up on an FCS team and more about pure, unadulterated brilliance on the football field.
Wide Receiver of the Week: Duce Robinson, Florida State
Week 2 PFSN College WRi Grade: 90.6 (A)
Duce Robinson etched his name into the Florida State Seminoles record book with a first-quarter performance not seen for a decade on his way to a 173-yard showing.
DUCE ROBINSON 82 YARD TOUCHDOWN
Look I know it’s ETAMU, but… this guy could be special pic.twitter.com/o6yGTKaDZ9
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 6, 2025
He snagged 85.3% of his targets, had the third-highest yards per route run of any receiver in Week 2 (11.5), and averaged an impressive 11.9 yards after the catch per reception. The former USC playmaker is finally living up to his high school recruiting rank.
Tight End of the Week: Dan Villari, Syracuse
Week 2 PFSN College TEi Grade: 85.9 (B)
As the Syracuse Orange got into a slug fest with the UConn Huskies, Dan Villari did a little of everything to help the ACC program get over the line for a win. No tight end in the country had more than his 102 receiving yards, and he added value after the catch (5.9 YAC per catch). As a blocker, he was exceptional. Villari had the second-most pass block snaps (11) of any tight end in the country and was credited with allowing zero pressure.
Offensive Tackle of the Week: Luke Needham, Rice
Week 2 PFSN College Individual OLi Grade: 92.6 (A-)
The Rice Owls couldn’t repeat their opening game success against the Houston Cougars in Week 2, but they kept the game close into the third quarter, partly because of stellar offensive line play. Luke Needham was the star of the show, dominating as a blocker for the Owls’ run-heavy option game and allowing zero pressures or sacks on 11 true dropbacks in pass protection.
Offensive Guard of the Week: Will Jeffcoat, Army
Week 2 PFSN College Individual OLi Grade: 94.1 (A)
Will Jeffcoat was the highest graded offensive lineman in Week 2, regardless of alignment, securing the Army Black Knights guard a spot on our college football team of the week. No pressure. No sacks. No penalties. Jeffcoat was as clean as a whistle and helped Jeff Monken’s team to a win over the Kansas State Wildcats that came as one of the shocks of the week.
Center of the Week: Zac Elam, Coastal Carolina
Week 2 PFSN College Individual OLi Grade: 87.5 (B+)
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers took a minute to dispatch the FCS opponent in Week 2, but Zac Elam gave the offense every opportunity to succeed. His unadjusted grade was one of the highest of any offensive lineman this weekend, but even accounting for opponent, he was still the highest-graded center in the country after helping the team rush for 251 yards.
Offensive Guard of the Week: Thomas Paasch, Northern Illinois
Week 2 PFSN College Individual OLi Grade: 91.6 (A-)
Thomas Paasch is the latest dominant offensive lineman off the Northern Illinois Huskies conveyor belt, and his mauler-like mentality and solid fundamentals helped the MAC program keep it close against the Maryland Terrapins on Friday night. Although he drew two penalties, he prevented any sacks or pressures on 21 true pass block snaps while carving open running lanes.
Offensive Tackle of the Week: Andrew Gentry, BYU
Week 2 PFSN College Individual OLi Grade: 87.1 (B+)
It was late on the East Coast when the BYU Cougars took to the field to face the Stanford Cardinal, so some of you might have missed the college football team of the week-worthy performance from Andrew Gentry. The former Michigan Wolverine kept Bear Bachmeier free from pressure or sacks, and led the way for LJ Martin to rush for over 100 yards in Week 2.
Edge Defender of the Week: William Whitlow Jr., Memphis
Week 2 PFSN College EDGEi Grade: 84.7 (B)
If you base the success of a pass rusher on sacks alone, William Whitlow Jr. likely isn’t on your radar as a college football team of the week contender. Well, more goes into the edge position than that, and the Memphis Tiger was a relentless, dominant force against the Georgia State Panthers.
Whitlow was credited with creating pressure on 22.2% of his pass rush snaps, with an 8.3% quick pressure rate showcasing his explosive ability. Furthermore, he helped stop the run at a high level, restricting the Panthers to 0.25 yards per run tackle and registering a 5.9% tackle for loss rate.
Defensive Tackle of the Week: Zach Crothers, Pittsburgh
Week 2 PFSN College DTi Grade: 89.5 (B+)
Is Zach Crothers about to break out as the next dominant defensive product from the Pittsburgh Panthers? The redshirt-freshman was unstoppable in the win over the Central Michigan Chippewas with a 40% pressure rate, 1.5 sacks, two splash plays, and a 7.7% tackle for loss rate.
MORE: Project the Entire 2025 Season With the PFSN College Football Playoff PredictorÂ
Built like an edge player but playing 96.4% of his snaps inside, his explosiveness led to a nation-leading 20% quick pressure rate.
Defensive Tackle of the Week: Vincent Carroll-Jackson, UConn
Week 2 PFSN College DTi Grade: 88.1 (B+)
The UConn Huskies kept the Syracuse Orange offense away from the end zone for a good chunk of their Week 2 encounter, and defensive tackle Vincent Carroll-Jackson was key to their success. The redshirt-sophomore created pressure on 12.2% of his pass rush snaps, with quick pressure on 4.9%. He ceded just one yard per run tackle as Syracuse limped to 44 rushing yards.
Edge Defender of the Week: Cameron Robertson, SMU
Week 2 PFSN College EDGEi Grade: 84.5 (B)
The SMU Mustangs got embroiled in a shootout against the Baylor Bears that would suggest a lack of any type of defense for either team. Yet, Cameron Robertson was an impactful presence in all phases of the game. No edge player in the country tallied as many run tackles (9) as the talented defensive dynamo while forcing a fumble that he recovered.
Linebacker of the Week: Jaxton Eck, New Mexico
Week 2 PFSN College LBi Grade: 89.6 (B+)
Idaho State has proven not to be a walkover this year, but the New Mexico Lobos got their first win of the year, partly thanks to linebacker Jaxton Eck’s play on defense. The former FCS All-American has made an immediate impact in the FBS, earning a spot on our college football team of the week as the highest graded linebacker this weekend. Eck led the FBS in tackles in Week 2, causing pressure on half his pass rush snaps.
Linebacker of the Week: Xavian Sorey Jr., Arkansas
Week 2 PFSN College LBi Grade: 88.4 (B+)
The Arkansas Razorbacks and Arkansas State Red Wolves met for the first time this last weekend, and the Sun Belt team probably wishes they had never met Xavian Sorey Jr. patrolling the field like a man possessed. The Arkansas linebacker was a consistent pressure problem (22.2% pressure rate), had two splash plays (including an interception), and allowed a passer rating when targeted of just 2.8.
Linebacker of the Week: Tyler Martin, UMass
Week 2 PFSN College LBi Grade: 86.7 (B)
The UMass Minutemen succumbed to an FCS win vs. an FBS team, but their defeat wasn’t for the lack of trying from linebacker Tyler Martin. He opened the scoring for the Minutemen with a 23-yard pick-six, one of two splash plays that bolstered his college football team of the week resume. He forced pressure on 33.3% of his pass rush plays and despite being targeted often (seven targets), allowed an 11.9 QB rating.
Cornerback of the Week: Mister Clark, FIU
Week 2 PFSN College CBi Grade: 95.7 (A)
While attention focused on the Penn State Nittany Lions not running up the score early on the FIU Panthers, it’s time to give the CUSA outfit its flowers. Mister Clark was a disruptive presence in the secondary, forcing an incompletion on 75% of his targets and allowing just seven yards and a 39.6 passer rating to one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, Drew Allar.
Cornerback of the Week: Ethan Johnson, Appalachian State
Week 2 PFSN College CBi Grade: 94.4 (A)
The fact that Ethan Johnson played 41 coverage snaps but was only targeted twice tells you everything you need to know about the Appalachian State Mountaineers’ cornerback.
EXCLUSIVE: Appalachian State Legacy Ethan Johnson Leaving Lasting Mark With the Mountaineers
A baller with tenacity at the catch point, he forced incompletions on both those targets, allowing zero receptions and a quarterback rating of 39.6 as the Mountaineers won a tighter-than-expected game.
Safety of the Week: Tyrece Mills, UConn
Week 2 PFSN College SAFi Grade: 97.2 (A+)
A juggernaut at the heart of the Huskies’ defense, Tyrece Mills is the second UConn player on our college football team of the week after a sensational showing against Syracuse. He gave up just five yards when targeted and accounted for more incompletions than receptions, while also forcing a fumble and a tackle for loss (six total tackles) as a multi-phase influencer.
Safety of the Week: Collin Matteson, Army
Week 2 PFSN College SAFi Grade: 95.5 (A)
Avery Johnson is one of college football’s most exciting quarterbacks, but he was made to look below average every time he looked Collin Matteson’s way. The Army safety was targeted four times, allowed just one reception, was credited with a forced incompletion on 75% of those targets, snagged an interception, and allowed just a 5.2 quarterback rating.
Kicker of the Week: Nico Gramatica, USF
Every time you get the opportunity to put through a walk-off field goal to beat a ranked in-state opponent in their backyard, you absolutely have to take it, and that’s precisely what Nico Gramatica did. He wasn’t perfect in the game, missing one kick, but he went toe-to-toe with Trey Smack and put himself into USF Bulls folklore with his game-winner from 20 yards out.
Punter of the Week: Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
There aren’t many better punters in the country than Michigan State Spartan Ryan Eckley, who continues to prove it weekly. Yes, Aidan Chiles threw for four touchdowns in the 42-40 overtime win, but the punter’s contributions were equally important.
OH MY WHAT A PUNT BY MICHIGAN STATE pic.twitter.com/xaW58yb1Za
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) September 7, 2025
His punt downed at the 1-yard line near the end of regulation time prevented Boston College from advancing downfield. He now has four punts inside the 2-yard line through two games. We don’t currently have a PFSN College Punter Impact metric, but perhaps we need one for Eckley.
Kick Returner of the Week: Jaden Nixon, UCF
For the second time in his career, Jaden Nixon leads the Big 12 Conference in kickoff return touchdowns. His first came in 2022 with Oklahoma State, then in Week 2 of the 2025 college football season, he broke away for a 96-yard return score against North Carolina A&T. He’s one of just eight FBS players with a kickoff return touchdown, part of a Week 2 performance that also included 156 rushing yards and two scores.
Punt Returner of the Week: Vicari Swain, South Carolina
Vicari Swain was named our Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-changing punt-return performance against the South Carolina State Bulldogs. Within the space of two minutes, he nailed a 65-yard and 42-yard punt return touchdown, turning a close-fought potential shock result into an ultimately comfortable win for a Gamecocks team with playoff aspirations.
