Top 10 college football players of the week: Mason Fine steals spotlight on and off field

With top Heisman candidates Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Fields off, it was North Texas QB Mason Fine who stole the spotlight on and off the field.

Gardner Minshew is becoming everyone’s favorite NFL quarterback and Joe Burrow has stolen the popularity this year in college football, but it is time to gather around Mason Fine. Even at a small school like North Texas, Fine is deserving of national attention with 27 touchdowns after a seven-touchdown performance, and for dressing up as a T-Rex in the post-game press conference.

Trevor Lawrence hasn’t made many appearances this year, but the sophomore had a worthy performance after the Clemson Tigers obliterated a helpless Wofford football team Lawrence’s performance should help his confidence level moving forward.

Running backs AJ Dillon, Chuba Hubbard and Isaiah Spiller had huge days, but it was quarterback Mason Fine who comes away with the No. 1 spot as our player of the week for Week 10.

College football players of the week

Honorable Mentions:

• Dillon Gabriel, QB, UCF – 21/30 att, 298 yds, 3 TD, 2 car, 18 yds, TD
• Shane Buechele, QB, SMU – 34/54 att, 456 yds, 3 TD
• Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State – 20/26 att, 328 yds, 3 TD
• Kaleb Barker, QB, Troy – 26/35 att, 385 yds, 3 TD, 11 car, 8 yds, TD

10. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

• 21/26 att, 225 yds, 3 TD, Int
• 4 car, 8 yds, TD

In a game with potential upset implications, Justin Herbert was up for the challenge. Herbert has quietly propelled Oregon into a position to contend for the final playoff spot. Herbert only made one real mistake against the Trojans but hung tough and finished strong.

9. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

• 9 car, 212 yds, 2 TD

If Lawrence was not a member of this team, Travis Etienne would easily replace the young quarterback in the spotlight. Etienne continues to dominate college football this season and if the game wasn’t so lopsided, the running back could have had well over 300 yards.

8. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State

• 20 car, 223 yds, 2 TD

Oklahoma State is feeding Chuba Hubbard week in and week out and it is not a bad strategy with the results he’s putting up. Another 200-plus rushing performance puts his season total of games over 150 yards at six.

7. Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M

• 20 car, 217 yds, 3 TD

Kellen Mond and Isaiah Spiller have caught fire recently and it is starting to help the Aggies revive their season. During the team’s three-game win streak, Spiller has five total touchdowns and has established a well-rounded running attack for A&M.

6. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College

• 35 car, 242 yds, 3 TD

Following a disappointing outing against Clemson where the Golden Eagles could not get anything going, AJ Dillon continued his insane 2019 campaign. The junior back alongside Etienne are two of the best athletes in the ACC.

5. Stephen Calvert, QB, Liberty

• 20/27 att, 474 yds, 4 TD

Liberty lost to a horrific Rutgers team last week but led by Stephen Calvert, the team responded with a 63-point offensive output. Calvert has been shredding secondaries this season and did so again this Saturday against the Minutemen.

4. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

• 12/16 att, 218 yds, 3 TD
• 4 car, 33 yds, TD

Lawrence didn’t live up to the exceedingly high expectations placed on him in the first half of the year with eight interceptions. But he’s played better in recent weeks and had a near-flawless game, albeit vs. an FCS opponent in Wofford. Lawrence gained confidence while on his way to a four-touchdown day.

3. Jamie Newman, QB, Wake Forest

• 25/38 att, 287 yds, 3 TD
• 11 car, 30 yds, 2 TD

Heading into their game against North Carolina State there was uncertainty on Newman’s availability due to a nagging injury. Newman gave it a go and was vital to the Demon Deacons win against the Wolfpack. His play against Clemson in two weeks could make things interesting.

2. Bryce Perkins, QB, Virginia

• 30/39 att, 378 yds, 3 TD
• 24 car, 112 yds, 2 TD

It has been an up and down year for Virginia, but Bryce Perkins was firing on all cylinders against a tough North Carolina team. Perkins has struggled throughout the season, but his latest breakout game came in a close win against an ACC rival.

1. Mason Fine, QB, North Texas

• 24/39 att, 332 yds, 7 TD

Simply incredible. Mason Fine has thrown 12 passing touchdowns in just two weeks including Saturday’s seven touchdown performance, which was a career-high.

Not only did Fine have a fantastic game, but the quarterback showed up to his presser in a hilarious dinosaur costume to top things off.

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