Taysom Hill recognized for play in BYU's win over Houston

FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION INDEPENDENT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK NAMED

BYU quarterback Taysom Hill, Notre Dame defensive end Romeo Okwara and Notre Dame placekicker/punter Kyle Brindza have been named FBS Independent Players of the Week, for games played through Saturday, Sept. 13.

Hill is cited on Offense, Okwara is honored on Defense, and Brindza is recognized on Special Teams. Brindza’s honor is his third consecutive and eighth of his career, while Hill’s recognition is his third in a row and seventh career citation. Okwara is honored for the first time.

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 QB Taysom Hill

A junior from Pocatello, Idaho, Hill racked up 360 yards of total offense and accounted for two touchdowns in BYU’s 33-25 home win over Houston. Hill completed 21 of 34 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown, and rushed 26 times for 160 yards and a score. In the process, Hill eclipsed the career 2,000-yard mark in rushing yardage and the career 4,000-yard mark in passing yardage; he is one of only 14 quarterbacks in FBS history to reach the 2,000/4,000 plateau before their senior seasons. Hill became the first of two FBS quarterbacks this season to record a game with 150-plus rushing yards and 200-plus passing yards; there were only four such FBS outings last season.

Hill was also singled out as the Athlon Sports' Independent Player of the Week for his performance in Saturday's win over Houston. 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Notre Dame DE Romeo Okwara

A junior from Charlotte, N.C., Okwara paced a dominant defensive effort in the second half as Notre Dame raced past Purdue, 30-14 in Indianapolis. Okwara set a career high with 11 tackles, including a half-sack, and forced a Purdue fumble. Okwara's previous career high in tackles was five. He helped Notre Dame limit Purdue to 160 yards on 49 plays (3.27 yards per play) over the Boilermakers’ final 10 drives of the game.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Notre Dame PK/P Kyle Brindza

A senior from Canton, Mich., Brindza continued to excel in all three facets of the kicking game, helping Notre Dame to a 30-14 win over Purdue in Indianapolis. Brindza averaged 48.2 yards on four punts, with a long of 52 yards, and dropped a pair of kicks inside the Purdue 20-yard line. Brindza also connected on three of four field goals, from 19, 39 and 48 yards; he additionally recorded five touchbacks on seven kickoffs. With three field goals on the night, Brindza moved into sole possession of second place on Notre Dame's all-time FG tally.