Jamaal Williams, Justin Sorensen receive FBS Independent Player of the Week Honors

FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION INDEPENDENT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK NAMED

BYU running back Jamaal Williams, Navy linebacker Cody Peterson and BYU placekicker Justin Sorensen have been named FBS Independent Players of the Week, for games played through Saturday, Nov. 16. 

Williams is recognized on Offense, Peterson is cited on Defense, and Sorensen is honored on Special Teams.  Williams is a first-time honoree, while Peterson’s second career honor is his also his second consecutive weekly award; Sorensen is honored for a third time this season and sixth time overall.

The FBS Independent Players of the Week are selected by members of a nationwide media panel, which includes equal representation from each of the independent institutions’ coverage markets.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

BYU RB Jamaal Williams

A sophomore from Fontana, Calif., Williams ran 13 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns in less than two full quarters of work, helping BYU to a 59-13 home win over Idaho State.  Williams’ three rushing scores tied his single-game high, while his 70-yard touchdown run was a career-long effort and BYU’s longest scrimmage run of the season.  He added a single reception for nine yards, as the Cougars won their home finale for an eighth straight season.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Navy LB Cody Peterson

A senior from Olympia, Wash., Peterson recorded eight tackles--all of them solo stops--including a key tackle for loss, in Navy’s 42-14 home win over South Alabama.  Early in the fourth quarter, with the Midshipmen holding a 27-14 lead and South Alabama facing a fourth-and-two from the Navy four-yard line, Peterson stopped the ball carrier for a two-yard loss, giving the ball back to the Mids.  Navy then marched down the field and scored to put the game away.  Peterson is second in the FBS in solo tackles per game, at 7.4 per contest.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

BYU PK Justin Sorensen
A senior from South Jordan, Utah, Sorensen had a perfect day on his placement kicks, converting his lone field goal attempt (26 yards) and all eight of his PAT tries in wet, sometimes snowy conditions, as BYU defeated Idaho State 59-13 in Provo.  He added touchbacks on five of his ten kickoffs.  This season, Sorensen is 16-for-19 on FGs and 39-for-39 on PATs, with touchbacks on 34 of 67 kickoffs.