Colorado Buffaloes WR Laviska Shenault named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week

Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault had a stellar encore to a solid night against CSU with a huge game on the road in Nebraska, earning the Pac-12’s offensive player of the week honors.

The sophomore from Desoto, Texas had 10 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns against the Huskers on Saturday. Shenault leads the Pac-12 with 388 receiving yards through two games, and also leads all receivers the nation in yards per catch with 18.5 (min. 20 receptions). He was on the receiving end of the game-winning 40-yard touchdown pass from Steven Montez (buy a shirt!!) securing the Buffs 33-28 win over Nebraska.

Here’s the other two players receiving conference honors for defense and special teams.

DEFENSIVE: Chase Hansen, Sr., LB, Utah (Highland, Utah)

• Finished the game with 12 tackles (2.0 sacks, 2.5 TFL), an interception return for a touchdown and a key fourth-quarter fumble recovery that stopped an NIU drive on first and 10. It was his third career game with 10-plus tackles.

• With Utah clinging to a 10-6 lead with under three minutes remaining, Hansen scored the final points of the game on a 40-yard return of an interception for a touchdown. It was his second career pick-six.

• One of Hansen’s two sacks came on NIU’s last offensive drive of the game, sending the Huskies back 15 yards on a first-and-10. He secured the victory with a 5-yard tackle for loss on fourth down for the Huskies.

Also nominated: Merlin Robertson, LB, Arizona State; Evan Weaver, LB, Cal; Nate Landman, LB, Colorado; Jalen Jelks, DL, Oregon; Bobby Okereke, LB, Stanford; Jalen Thompson, S, Washington State

SPECIAL TEAMS: Brandon Ruiz, So., PK, Arizona State (Gilbert, Ariz.)

• Connected on all three of his field goal attempts (49, 24, 28), including the game-winning kick from 28 yards as time expired in ASU’s 16-13 upset of then-No. 15 Michigan State.

• Scored ASU’s first points of the game with a 49-yard field goal to cut MSU’s lead to 6-3 in the third quarter. Hit his second field goal (24 yards) early in the fourth quarter to get ASU within a touchdown, 13-6, of the Spartans.

• All four of his kickoffs in the game were touchbacks.

Also nominated: Jake Bailey, P, Stanford; Kyle Sweet, PR, Washington State