Utah State’s Bryson Barnes Named Mountain West Player of the Week
Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes has been named the Old Trapper Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week following his stellar outing in the Aggies’ 49-30 win over Air Force. It marks the third conference weekly honor of his career and his second from the Mountain West.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes has been named the Old Trapper Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week following his stellar outing in the Aggies’ 49-30 win over Air Force. It marks the third conference weekly honor of his career and his second from the Mountain West.
Barnes, a graduate of Milford High (Utah), accounted for a career-high five total touchdowns. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 287 yards and two scores—his second-highest passing total ever, and the most he has recorded in a Utah State uniform. He also rushed 15 times for 44 yards and three touchdowns, becoming just the second player in school history to run for three TDs and throw for two in the same game.
His performance earned him a passing efficiency rating of 216.9 and recognition as one of the Davey O’Brien Award’s “Great 8” for Week 3.
Other Mountain West Honorees
Defensive Player of the Week – Jaxton Eck, New Mexico
The junior linebacker from Brookings, South Dakota, posted a game-high 11 tackles—five of them solo—in the Lobos’ 35-10 upset win at UCLA. Eck tipped a third-and-2 pass in the fourth quarter that was intercepted, sealing New Mexico’s first victory over a Power Five opponent since 2008. It was also the fewest points the Lobos have allowed to such an opponent since 2002.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawai‘i
The senior kicker from Tokyo, Japan, scored 11 points in Hawai‘i’s 23-3 victory over Portland State. Matsuzawa matched his career high with three field goals, including a career-long 44-yarder to open the second half. He added a 47-yarder in the fourth quarter and a 35-yard kick to cap the scoring.
Freshman of the Week – Samuel Harris, Wyoming
The running back from Cibolo, Texas, was a bright spot in Wyoming’s 31-6 loss to No. 21 Utah. Harris rushed eight times for a career-best 68 yards, including a 28-yard burst, while adding three receptions for 37 yards. He finished with a career-high 105 all-purpose yards.
