Colorado Buffaloes LB Nate Landman named Pac-12 defensive player of the week

Colorado Buffaloes inside linebacker Nate Landman’s first career start pushed him to the forefront of conference recognition as he earnedPac-12 defensive player of the week honors.

The sophomore from Danville, Calif. recorded 16 tackles (two for loss) and an interception in the Colorado’s 45-13 win over Colorado State on Friday. His stellar performance in the Rocky Mountain Showdown puts him ninth in the nation for total tackles. The Buffs held the Rams to 284 total yards, one of the lowest marks for the in-state rivalry. Landman was selected as the Dick Anderson award winner by CU’s coaches before the season for his outstanding toughness. He power cleaned 355 pounds, ten pounds shy of the program record.

Here’s the two other player receiving Pac-12 honors on offense and special teams.

OFFENSE: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford

• In Stanford’s 31-10 win over San Diego State, Arcega-Whiteside’s 226 receiving yards were the third-most in a game in Stanford history, and the most since 1999.

• He caught three touchdowns and a two-point conversion, and in all, finished with six receptions and 37.67 yards per catch. His touchdown catches went for 38, 19 and a career-long 80 yards.

• His first touchdown gave Stanford the lead just before halftime and his last touchdown came on 3rd-and-15 from the Stanford 20-yard line with the Cardinal leading by just six in the third quarter.

• Arcega-Whiteside is the first Stanford receiver to earn Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week since Mark Bradford on Oct. 6, 2007 and is the first league receiver to take home the accolade since Washington’s John Ross III on Nov. 7, 2016.

Also nominated: N’Keal Harry, ASU; Laviska Shenault, COLO; Justin Herbert, ORE; Artavis Pierce, OSU; JT Daniels, USC; Zack Moss, UTAH; Gardner Minshew II, WSU.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Chase McGrath, USC

• McGrath tied the USC record for most field goals in a game when he kicked five field goals in USC’s 43-21 win over UNLV.

• His three-pointers were 46, 38, 29, 47 and 36 yards, with no misses. He also hit all three of his PATs and scored USC’s first 12 points of the game.

• He tied a 14-year-old school record, first set in 2004 by Ryan Killen, who had five field goals versus UCLA.

• McGrath’s last PAT, following a touchdown with 1:38 to play, was snapped by blind long snapper Jake Olson.

Also nominated: Michael Sleep-Dalton, ASU; Ronnie Blackmon, COLO; Jake Bailey, STAN; Blake Mazza, WSU.