DALLAS (FWAA) – Each week during the 2026 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.
For the sixth straight year, the top first-year coach in the FBS will be honored at a special reception at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Gainesville, Fla. The Spurrier Legends Awardee Coach and Freshman Players of the Year will also be honored.
Here are the top performances from Week 5, the weekend of Oct. 3:
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
Notre Dame RB Jonaz Walton (5-9, 214, Carrollton, Ga.): 23 rushes, 120 yards; 2 receptions, 28 yards
Walton’s workload indicated that Notre Dame might have a new primary running back. He led the Irish in carries and yards rushing in a 37-26 win at North Carolina on Saturday. Walton also impressed as a pass-catcher, hauling in the first two catches of his collegiate career for 28 yards receiving. Walton has a chance to run wild when a struggling Stanford defense visits South Bend this weekend.
Oregon State WR Jesse Legree (5-10, 172, Baltimore, Md.): 5 receptions, 156 yards, 3 TD
Somehow, Legree might have one-upped all of his other elite performances so far this season. His 156 receiving yards weren’t a career-high (that was 240 against Texas Tech), but he did score three touchdowns for the first time in a 56-26 beatdown of Colorado State. Legree is on pace to hit 1,785 yards receiving by the end of the regular season, which would surpass former Beaver superstar Brandin Cooks for the most in school history. Legree hopes to erupt again on Saturday when San Diego State comes to Corvallis.
Alabama LB Xavier Griffin (6-3, 228, Gainesville, Ga.): 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL
Griffin introduced himself to many Alabama fans and the SEC as the Crimson Tide hammered Mississippi State 56-23. Leading Alabama’s talent-stacked defense in tackles was impressive enough before he pinned Mississippi State dual-threat quarterback Kamario Taylor for his first career sack. Griffin appears to be living up to his 5-star billing, as his snap count has significantly increased in the last two games. Griffin will face his toughest challenge yet when Georgia visits Tuscaloosa Saturday.
San Diego State RB Josiah Lucas (5-9, 190, Arlington, Tx.): 21 rushes, 111 yards, 2 TD; 4 receptions, 9 yards
Lucas went from 14 carries through the first month of the season to 21 in a monumental 31-29 win over Texas State. He scored twice in the third quarter, tying the game with his first touchdown and taking the lead for good in the second. Lucas showed impressive vision, making several defenders miss before he even crossed the line of scrimmage. Lucas hopes to shine on a bigger stage this Saturday when the Aztecs visit Oregon State.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Neal Brown, North Texas: Brown’s Mean Green did just enough to win their conference opener over Tulsa 45-44. North Texas took a 45-38 lead in overtime and allowed a Tulsa touchdown before stopping the Golden Hurricane’s two-point conversion attempt to seal the win. North Texas lost its starting quarterback and running back to the transfer portal this offseason, but their replacements stepped up, as Tayven Jackson and Jaheim White combined for 551 yards of offense and six touchdowns. Brown’s offense aims to roll again when it hosts Charlotte on Saturday.
Jimmy Rogers, Iowa State: Rogers’ Cyclones traded blows with West Virginia throughout a shootout, but Iowa State delivered the last punch. Running back Aiden Flora scored his third and final touchdown of the game with less than two minutes remaining, taking the lead for good in a 45-42 victory. Rogers, who took his first FBS head coaching job last year at Washington State, earned his first conference win. The Cyclones will try to shock the country at BYU on Friday night.
Jamarcus Shepard, Oregon State: Shepard earned his first conference win in dominant fashion Saturday as the Beavers thumped Colorado State 56-26. Oregon State’s air attack was virtually unstoppable, as quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 31 of his 34 pass attempts for 427 yards and five touchdowns. Freshman receiver Jesse Legree, mentioned above, stood out again with 156 yards receiving and three touchdowns of his own. Shepard can win his first home conference game on Saturday when Oregon State hosts San Diego State.
Will Stein, Kentucky: Stein’s Wildcats roared back from a 17-0 deficit to shock South Carolina in overtime, 35-34. Kentucky outscored South Carolina 20-3 in the second and third quarters to fight its way back into contention before forcing overtime. Stein showed guts on the game-winning play, opting to go for two in a do-or-die attempt that Kentucky converted. The Wildcats can move to 3-1 in the SEC and grab the country’s attention with a home win against LSU on Saturday.