Kirk Herbsreit reveals top performing college football players for Week 2

Week 2 of the 2023 college football season is in the books, and some wild outcomes and strong performances highlighted last Saturday’s slate.

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit revealed seven athletes that made their way onto his top performing players list from Week 2, and the selections span across the country. If one thing’s for sure, there was no shortage of action this past weekend, and these players were at the forefront of it all.

Quinn Ewers, Texas

Texas downed Alabama 34-24 in Tuscaloosa over the weekend, solidifying the Longhorns as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender during the early season. They’ve got Quinn Ewers to thank for that.

Ewers finished the game with a 63% (24-38) completion percentage and 349 passing yards for the three touchdowns previously noted. His top targets — AD Mitchell, Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington — combined for 11 receptions, 197 yards and three touchdowns on during the victory as well.

Overall, the Longhorns compiled 454 total yards of offense against the Crimson Tide. On top of that, the 10 penalties Saban mentioned gave Texas an additional 90 yards. Two interceptions from Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe didn’t help their case, either.

Tyler Van Dyke, Miami

Miami scored one of the biggest wins of the Mario Cristobal era with Saturday’s 48-33 victory over then-ranked Texas A&M. Tyler Van Dyke threw five touchdowns passes to go with 374 yards during the contest as the ‘Canes improve to 2-0 on the season.

Overall, Van Dyke has a 73.1% (38-52) completion percentage on the season, has passed for 575 yards and enters Week 3 with a 6-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Bo Nix, Oregon

Texas Tech had No. 13 Oregon biting their nails in the final minutes of Saturday’s 38-30 loss to the Ducks. If it weren’t for a 45-yard Jeffrey Bassa pick-six in the last 60 seconds of regulation. If not for that, Nix might not be on this list.

Instead, quarterback Bo Nix’s 359-yard passing performance to go along with two touchdowns on the night was what got the Ducks over the hump during the non-conference, Power Five matchup.

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Shedeur Sanders and Colorado added to the magical start to the season with a decisive 36-14 victory over Nebraska on Saturday. After breaking nine school records and passing for 510 yards during the season-opener, he followed that performance up with a 393-yard, three touchdown performance against the Cornhuskers.

His 903 yards and six touchdowns (not to mention no interceptions) rank second in the country behind Hawaii’s Brayden Schager. The Buffs will host Herbstreit and ESPN’s College GameDay for Week 3 as they take on in-state rival Colorado State.

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton proved why he was a top-10 recruit in the 2022 class with his performance against Appalachian State on Saturday.

Week 1’s leading rusher in British Brooks was a late scratch from the contest, and Hampton was given and extended 26 carries for 234 yards and three touchdowns on the night and now leads the team with 271 total yards and five total scores. As a true freshman one season ago, he put together a 401 yard season and is well on his way to eclipsing that in 2023.

Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

The lone defender to appear on Herbstreit’s list, veteran Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman totaled a whopping 17 tackles (five solo) on the afternoon, one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. The No. 18 Sooners would take down SMU 28-11 thanks to his services heading into Week 3’s matchup against Tulsa.

Stutsman was also the leading tackler during OU’s 73-0 season opening victory against Arkansas State with four total tackles during the game.

Holden Staes, Notre Dame

Tight end Holden Staes channeled his inner Michael Mayer against NC State on Saturday, hauling in four receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns — one of which went for 40 yards. Notre Dame won the matchup 45-24 to improve to 3-0 on the young season.

Including Saturday, Staes has logged receptions in three games throughout his career — one of which being the home opener against Tennessee State — but had never caught more than one pass in his career.

Now, the former four-star recruit enters Week 3 with three touchdowns on five receptions totaling 119 yards, and there’s no sign of him slowing down as the season progresses.