College Football Players of the Week: Backup QB Khalil Tate sets FBS record

Two backup quarterbacks shined during Week 6

By Ben Kercheval

Oct 8, 2017 at 2:36 pm ET • 2 min read

The great thing about college football is that anyone, starter or backup, can have a memorable performance. Such is the case with the Players of the Week following an exciting Week 6

In fact, two quarterbacks listed as backups on their respective team depth charts earned weekly honors from CBS Sports. One came in during the first quarter and set a single-game FBS rushing record for quarterbacks. The other led his team to a thrilling double-overtime conference win. Sandwiched in between is our SEC Player of the Week, who had a career day running the ball.

Below are our selections as well as this week's scholar athletes.

National Player of the Week

Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate: Trust us, it was tough to pass over future Hornung Award recipient and New England Patriots Week 7 fantasy football stud Joel Lanning from Iowa State. The linebacker/quarterback was an impact player in all three phases of the Cyclones' win over Oklahoma. Seriously, though, how can it not be Tate? The guy came off the bench for Arizona and ran for 327 yards and four touchdowns on just 14 carries in the Wildcats' win over Colorado. That set a single-game FBS rushing record by a quarterback. He also completed 11-of-12 passes for 142 yards with another touchdown to boot.

SEC Player of the Week

Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson: Auburn's workhorse running back had a career-high 204 yards to go along with three touchdowns in a convincing 44-23 win over Ole Miss. With a long of 48 yards (his second score of the day), Johnson averaged just north of seven yards per touch. The Tigers' offense has been a completely different unit for the better over the past few games. The passing attack has started to click, but it's the run game efficiency that's helping to set it up.

Freshman of the Week

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger: If there was any doubt before, there shouldn't be now. Ehlinger has proven himself in three starts as Texas' starting quarterback. The Longhorns' 40-34 double overtime win over Kansas State might have sealed the deal even though Ehlinger has been Texas' backup by definition. Ehlinger was 30-of-50 passing for a career-best 380 yards and two touchdowns. His arm strength to push the ball down field, coupled with his mobility, has opened up Texas' offense in a way that it hasn't looked like in years. For a first-year player, his confidence is through the roof and the rest of the team feeds off of it.