College football Week 1 studs: Top 10 players of the week

The first week of the 2018 college football season saw some huge performances.

College football didn’t disappoint in its first week back in 2018. There were big performances from the usual suspects and others that stepped up and got off to a great start to the year. Exciting games with exciting finishes occurred and of course, everyone knows who stepped up.

With plenty of big performances that spanned Thursday to Saturday, Week 1 saw great quarterbacks put up huge numbers, running backs rush for plenty of yards and receivers haul in big catches.

It’s hard to pick out every single performer that had a big game in college football this week, but there were nine that had exceptional performances. These 10 players definitely earned their helmet stickers this week.

10. Justin Herbert – QB, Oregon

• 1021, 281 yards, 5 TD’s, 1 rushing TD

Regarded by many as the top quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft, Justin Herbert took a little while to get going in the opener vs Bowling Green. After falling behind 10-0 in the first, Herbert poured it on, finishing with six total touchdowns in a 58-24 win.

9. Rondale Moore – WR, Purdue

• 11 catches, 109 yards, 1 TD

The Purdue wide receiver had a breakout performance in his first game as a freshman. Rondale Moore showed that he has huge potential at the wide receiver spot and had double-digit receptions along with over 100 yards. He broke the program’s record for all-purpose yards with 313 all-purpose yards.

8. Jonathan Taylor – RB, Wisconsin

• 18 car, 145 yds, 2 TD’s

As he kicks off his Heisman campaign, Jonathan Taylor was exceptional. He ran for 145 yards on just 18 carries and picked up a couple of touchdowns for his trouble. He got off to the start people expected him to.

7. Dwayne Haskins – QB, Ohio State

• 22/30 att, 313 yds, 5 TD

In his first start as an Ohio State quarterback, Dwayne Haskins set a school record for touchdown passes in his first start and helped lead the Ohio State offense to an impressive showing against Oregon State.

6. Eric Dungey – QB, Syracuse

• 7/17 att, 184 yds, 2 TD, 15 car, 200 yds, 1 TD

The heart of Eric Dungey could not be matched in a gutsy performance against Western Michigan. He rallied the program to a huge win behind his arm and his legs.

5. Mike Weber – RB, Ohio State

• 20 car, 186 yards, 3 TD’s, 1 rec TD

The Oregon State defense had no answer for Mike Weber every single time he touched the ball. He ran for close to 200 yards and he had four total touchdowns on the afternoon.

4. McKenzie Milton – QB, UCF

• 24/32 att, 346 yds, 5 TD

In one of the first games on Thursday night, UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton reminded everyone why the Knights are a force to be reckoned with on offense.

3. Trayveon Williams – RB, Texas A&M

• 20 car, 240 yds, 3 TD’s

Trayveon Williams breaking off huge runs has been something to grace college football for a while now. He went over the 200-yard mark and picked up three touchdowns in the Aggies’ first game under Jimbo Fisher.

https://twitter.com/ESPNCFB/status/1035336380577193984

2. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside – WR, Stanford

• 6 rec, 226 yds, 3 TD’s

Stanford continues to prove that they are loaded with weapons on offense. It wasn’t the Bryce Love show against San Diego State, but rather J.J. Arcega-Whiteside’s night, as he hauled in over 200 yards and three touchdowns.

1. Will Grier – QB, West Virginia

• 25/34 att, 425 yds, 5 TD’s

One of the biggest names in college football delivered a huge win over Tennessee on Saturday. Will Grier boosted his stock with over 400 yards and five touchdowns. This was the first 400-yard performance of Grier’s career, but it might not be his last.