College football Week 2 players of the week: Joe Burrow’s national coming-out-party

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow had a career night to make our list of the top 10 college football players of the week.

Several contenders for the college football playoff avoided disastrous upsets while several dual-threat quarterbacks continued a fast 2019 start. Tua Tagovailoa, Jonathan Taylor and Justin Fields all made their second straight appearance on our list of the players of the week after torching defenses in Week 2.

Heisman front-runner Jalen Hurts would have made the list if Oklahoma needed him to play more vs. South Dakota. But this week features several other big-name players and those you may not know much about now but will be household names later this fall.

Honorable Mentions:

• Nate Stanley, QB: Iowa – 16/28 att, 236 yds, 3 TD
• Sam Ehlinger, QB: Texas – 31/47 att, 401 yds, 4 TD, 19 car, 60 yds, TD
• Zac Charbonnet, RB: Michigan – 33 car, 100 yds, 3 TD
• Kevin Harris, RB: South Carolina – 6 car, 147 yds, 3 TD

10. Jerry Jeudy, WR: Alabama

• 8 rec, 103 yds, 3 TD

College football’s best receiver and future first-round draft pick Jerry Jeudy was brilliant in Alabama’s throttling of New Mexico State. Providing a No. 1 target for Tua Tagovailoa. Jeudy’s speed and strength after the catch is unmatched in the game as of right now.

9. Justin Fields, QB: Ohio State

• 20/25 att, 224 yds, 2 TD
• 9 car, 42 yds, 2 TD

Justin Fields has impressed fans since arriving at Ohio State taking control of the offense with impressive throws and electrifying runs. Fields is certainly at the top of the pecking order when it comes to possible Heisman finalists.

8. Tua Tagovailoa, QB: Alabama

• 16/24 att, 227 yds, 3 TD
• 2 car, 33 yds, TD

Head coach Nick Saban let his junior quarterback loose against the New Mexico State Aggies as Tagovailoa was finding open receivers all game long. Tagovailoa looks to seek revenge after a championship loss a season ago.

7. Justin Herbert, QB: Oregon

• 19/26 att, 310 yds, 5 TD

After a disappointing loss against Auburn to open the season for the Ducks, quarterback Justin Herbert had a fantastic game against Nevada throwing five touchdowns without an interception. Herbert’s season is vital for his draft status after the season.

6. Rondale Moore, WR: Purdue

• 13 rec, 220 yds, TD

The speedy wide receiver caught double-digit passes in a rebound win against Vanderbilt at home. Moore continues to develop a roll in the slot with the Boilermakers as a reliable target for Jeff Brohm’s offense.

5. Elijah Sindelar, QB: Purdue

• 34/52 att, 509 yds, 5 TD, Int
• 4 car, 10 yds, TD

Purdue exploded offensively thanks to a takeover game from quarterback Elijah Sindelar. He threw a crazy amount of passes but found the end zone on five separate occasions, one of which to star receiver Rondale Moore.

4. Jonathan Taylor, RB: Wisconsin

• 19 car, 102 yds, 3 TD
• 3 rec, 17 yds, 1 TD

Jonathan Taylor’s receiving game took another big step forward as the best back in the country caught his third receiving touchdown of the season in a shutout victory of Central Michigan. Taylor has been an absolute force for the Badgers thus far, creating headaches for opposing coordinators.

3. Darrynton Evans, RB: Appalachian State

• 19 car, 234 yds, 3 TD

Appalachian State’s lead running back Darrynton Evans went ballistic against the Charlotte 49ers running up and down the field with ease. Evans is currently averaging 9.7 yards per carry this season.

2. Drew Plitt, QB: Ball State

• 32/40 att, 439 yds, 6 TD, 1 Int

Ball State’s junior quarterback had a fantastic afternoon at home against Fordham with only eight incompletions in a six-touchdown game. Plitt looked unstoppable against the Rams firing dimes all across the field.

1. Joe Burrow, QB: LSU

• 31/39 att, 471 yds, 4 TD, Int

It is Joe Burrow season in Baton Rouge as the senior quarterback battled through a Tom Herman defense with four touchdowns including the biggest play of the game on 3rd-and-17. LSU looks to be a serious contender in the SEC with Burrow playing at a high level.