It was another unforgettable weekend across North Carolina college football, with NC State and Duke scoring big ACC triumphs and Livingstone extending its win streak in CIAA action. Those three teams produced the latest North Carolina College Football Players of the Week presented by NC Football News.
Our defensive pick is a familiar name, Livingstone defensive lineman Kenyon Garner, a repeat winner and national leader in tackles-for-loss and sacks. NC State’s Jaylen “Duke” Scott and Duke’s Sahmir Hagans make their first appearance (though teammates have been here before).
Scroll below for our full list of honorees and standout performances from every corner of the state.
👉 VIEW PAST WINNERS: North Carolina College Football Players of the Week for August, September and October
👉 ONE TEAM TO RULE THEM ALL! (This Week): NC State’s upset over Georgia Tech makes the Wolfpack our college Team of the Week.
🏆 Offensive Player of the Week – Jayden “Duke” Scott, NC State
In his first career start, redshirt freshman Jayden “Duke” Scott delivered a breakout performance that fueled NC State’s 48-36 upset of No. 8 Georgia Tech.
The powerful tailback rushed for 196 yards on 24 carries (8.2 yards per attempt) and added two catches for 11 yards, totaling 207 all-purpose yards against one of the ACC’s top teams.
Scott’s 30-yard touchdown run extended State’s early lead, while his 69-yard gallop on the first drive of the third quarter set up another score to help the Wolfpack seize control.
His 196-yard rushing day tied for the 11th-best rushing performance in school history, per NCSU sports information — and was the most by a Wolfpack player since 2018. Scott’s big night also earned him both ACC Rookie and Running Back of the Week honors. He also was named AP National Player of the Week runner-up and Shaun Alexander Award Freshman of the Week.
🏅 Honorable Mention Offense
CJ Bailey (NC State):
Named both the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week, Bailey engineered NC State’s 48-36 upset of No. 8 Georgia Tech with surgical precision. The redshirt junior completed 24 of 32 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns, then added another score on the ground to cap a career-defining night under the lights at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Chauncey Spikes (North Carolina Central):
The Eagles’ wideout exploded for a career-high 208 yards and three touchdowns on nine receptions in a 35-14 win at Howard. His 80-yard score highlighted the fifth-best receiving day in program history and earned him Stats Perform National HBCU Player of the Week and MEAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Darian Mensah (Duke):
The sophomore quarterback engineered a 94-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes at Clemson, lifting Duke to a 46-45 victory — its first ‘W’ at Death Valley since 1980. Mensah completed six of eight passes for 83 yards on the deciding march and finished the night with 361 passing yards and multiple fourth-down conversions in a performance that defined grit and composure.
⚡ Also Noteworthy: Offense
Elijah Holmes (Wingate): 350 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air in an overtime triumph against rival Lenoir-Rhyne.
Tre Robinson (UNC Pembroke): Accounted for 296 total yards (197 passing, 99 rushing) and two TDs in a 34-17 win over Barton. Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Week.
James Tyre (Western Carolina): Hauled in three first-half touchdown catches as the Catamounts improved to 5-0 in SoCon play for the first time in program history.
Teague Anderson (NC State): Dominant at right tackle, grading out at 90% with six pancake blocks as the Wolfpack rolled up 583 total yards in the win over Georgia Tech. ACC O-Lineman of the Week
Braylon Knapp (North Carolina Wesleyan): Freshman QB tossed four touchdown passes and 183 yards in a 48-17 victory over Methodist. Named USA South Rookie of the Week.
Yannick Smith (ECU): Explosive wideout produced 100 yards and two TDs on five catches, keeping the Pirates’ passing attack alive in a big win over Temple.
Trevon Humphrey (NCCU): Anchored the offensive line with a 94% grade and five pancakes as NCCU piled up 471 total yards in its win over Howard.
🛡️ Defensive Player of the Week – Kenyon Garner, Livingstone
For the second straight week, Kenyon Garner made it look like he was playing a different sport. The senior defensive lineman delivered yet another disruptive performance in Livingstone’s Homecoming win over Shaw, accounting for nine points by himself.
Garner finished with four tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, a fumble recovery returned 45 yards for a touchdown and a safety — outscoring Shaw’s offense through three quarters. He continues to lead the CIAA in tackles for loss (16.5) and defensive touchdowns (3), and has been at the center of the Blue Bears’ defensive resurgence this fall.
🏅 Honorable Mention Defense
Melkart Abou Jaoude (UNC)
The Tar Heels’ edge rusher was a game-changer in Friday’s road win at Syracuse, recording six tackles, two sacks and a strip sack that helped seal the 27-17 victory. His seven total sacks now lead the ACC and rank among the nation’s top 10.
Matthew Leach (Fayetteville State)
Even in defeat, Leach was everywhere for the Broncos. The senior linebacker posted 12 tackles (six solo) and multiple third-down stops to keep Fayetteville State within striking distance in its narrow 17-14 loss to JCSU. It was his fifth double-digit tackling game of the year. Voted CIAA Linebacker of the Week.
⚡ Also Noteworthy
Isaiah Fulton (Chowan): Pick-six hero — returned a third-quarter interception 55 yards for a TD in a 34-30 win at Erskine. Named Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Week.
Brandon Moss (Livingstone): Eight tackles, one TFL, and a forced fumble as the Blue Bears held Shaw to 118 passing yards. Earned CIAA Defensive Back of the Week status.
Caden Fordham (NC State): Recorded 15 tackles in the Wolfpack’s upset of No. 8 Georgia Tech.
Nick Iannone (Guilford): Logged 16 tackles (13 solo) in a gritty effort against Roanoke.
Isi Etute (UNC Pembroke): Dominated the backfield with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in a key conference win over Barton.
Keenan Price (Mars Hill): Posted 3.5 tackles for loss as the Lions’ defense continued its strong run in South Atlantic play.
🚀 Special Teams Player of the Week – Sahmir Hagans, Duke
When Duke needed a spark, Sahmir Hagans lit up Death Valley. The sophomore wide receiver and return man ripped off a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown midway through the third quarter to tie Clemson 35-35, then caught the game-winning two-point conversion with 40 seconds remaining in a 46-45 victory — Duke’s first win at Clemson since 1980.
Hagans became just the second Blue Devil ever with multiple 99+ yard touchdowns and the first Duke player with a kickoff return TD since 2015. His all-around effort helped secure one of the biggest ACC wins of the season. It also earned him ACC Specialist of the Week.
🏅 Honorable Mention Special Teams
Antwone Godley (Chowan):
Delivered a storybook ending, returning a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown with 47 seconds left to beat Erskine 34-30 — the first kick-return TD in Conference Carolinas this season. Godley was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week.
Andrew Brown (North Carolina A&T):
Drilled a school-record 56-yard field goal, breaking his own mark from earlier this year. Brown has now hit multiple 50+ yard kicks this season, ranking among the top long-range specialists in FCS football.
⚡ Also Noteworthy
Hayden Vandegriff (Brevard): Perfect 4-for-4 on field goals (25, 39, 23, 24) and 2-for-2 PATs for 14 total points in a narrow 32–26 loss. Named USA South Special Teams Player of the Week.
Kane Reynoldson (Duke): Averaged 50.7 yards on four punts, including a 57-yarder, flipping field position all day at Clemson.
Kanoah Vinesett (NC State): Had a perfect day in special teams, hitting 6 PATs and 2 field goals for 12 points in the Pack’s win over No. 8 Georgia Tech.
