Charlotte, NC – The Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week have been recognized following their standout performances in Week 4 of the 2024 college football season. The selections are determined by a vote of a select media panel. The following are this week’s honorees:
QUARTERBACK – Cam Ward, Miami, QB, West Columbia, Texas
Ward became the first ACC quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns in the first four starts of his career in the last 25 years with another dominant outing against South Florida. Ward finished with a season-high 404 yards and three touchdowns, completing 24-for-34 passes with his lone interception coming on a muffed catch. Ward, who has thrown for over 300 passing yards in all four games this season, has recorded over 15,000 yards passing in his career, making him the 13th player recognized by the NCAA to have reached that milestone.
RUNNING BACK – Brashard Smith, SMU, RB, Richmond Heights, Florida
Smith posted a career-high 190 all-purpose yards (127 rushing, 27 receiving, 39 kick return) while scoring a career-best four touchdowns in the Mustangs’ rivalry win against TCU. Four touchdowns were the most total touchdowns by an SMU player since Courtland Sutton hauled in four receiving touchdowns against North Texas in 2017. Smith has recorded more than 100 all-purpose yards in every game this season.
RECEIVER – Lewis Bond, Boston College, WR, Chicago, Illinois
Bond scored the game-winning touchdown for Boston College on a 42-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter against Michigan State in the Red Bandana Game. He totaled six receptions and 102 yards, marking his second career 100-yard game. Three of his receptions turned into first downs on third-down attempts.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Noah Josey, Virginia, LG, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Josey helped pave the way for Virginia’s 384 rushing yards against Coastal Carolina – the most by the Cavaliers since 1998 and the most by an ACC team this season. The rushing total is tied for the sixth-highest of any FBS team this season. Josey played every offensive snap at left guard and also produced the third-highest pass blocking grade (86.2) of any guard in the country in week four according to Pro Football Focus.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Patrick Payton, Florida State, DE, Miami, Florida
Payton logged a career-high 3.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles-for-loss in Florida State’s win over Cal, all of which came in the second half. Payton led the way for Florida State to record season-bests in sacks (7.0) and tackles-for-loss (12.0). Two of Payton’s sacks came on third down with one leading to a missed field goal. Following the win, the redshirt junior now ranks 12th in the country with 1.0 sacks per game.
LINEBACKER – David Bailey, Stanford, OLB, Irvine, California
Bailey racked up two sacks for the Cardinal in Friday’s win over Syracuse, Stanford’s first-ever conference win in ACC play. It was Bailey’s second career multi-sack game and his first of the 2024 season. The Irvine, California, native totaled four tackles and forced a fumble to pair with the two sacks. The Cardinal defense has forced a turnover in five straight contests, dating back to the 2023 season finale against Notre Dame.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Ahmaad Moses, SMU, S, Arlington, Texas
Moses recorded four tackles and a pass breakup in SMU’s rivalry win over TCU on Saturday to go along with a career-best two interceptions, totaling 97 return yards. Moses returned one of his interceptions for a 60-yard touchdown.
SPECIALIST – Emmet Kenney, Stanford, K, Fargo, North Dakota
Kenney hit the game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired to seal the road victory over Syracuse on Friday night. The 39-yarder was Kenney’s fourth field goal of the night and his first career game-winning kick. In the second quarter, the Fargo, North Dakota, product drilled a 51-yard field goal – the longest of his career. Kenney went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, the most in a game in his career, while remaining a perfect 8-for-8 on the season.
ROOKIE – Eli Holstein, Pitt, QB, Zachary, Louisiana
Holstein accounted for five touchdowns, with three passing and two rushing, while compiling 340 yards of total offense in Pitt’s win over Youngstown State. Holstein completed 67 percent of his pass attempts for 247 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown – Pitt’s longest passing play since 2019. The redshirt freshman rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns, marking the most rushing yards by a Pitt quarterback since 2014. Holstein became the first Pitt quarterback since Dan Marino in 1979 to win each of his first four starts. This is the fourth consecutive week that Holstein has earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors.