Texas RB Jonathon Brooks (offensive) and WR Adonai Mitchell (newcomer) were joined by Baylor CB Caden Jenkins (defensive) and TTU WR Loic Fouonji (special teams) as Big 12 football Week 5 award winners.
Brooks rushed for a career-high 218 yards with two touchdowns on 21 carries (10.4 ypc) to lead No. 3 Texas to a 40-14 win over No. 24 Kansas. It was the first 200-yard rushing game of his career and marked his third straight and fourth overall 100-yard effort. The 218 yards were also the fourth-most against a ranked opponent in UT history. The Physical Culture and Sports major had a season-long 67-yard run marking his third-straight game with a carry of at least 40 yards. The 67-yarder set Texas up at the Kansas 8-yard line and led to a field goal for a 13-7 lead in the second quarter. Brooks then put the Longhorns back on the scoreboard to open the second half with a 54-yard touchdown run to make it 20-7. Following a Jayhawk turnover at their own 32, Brooks carried it on four of the five plays on the way to finishing the drive with a one-yard score. The win moved Texas to 5-0 for the first time since 2009.
Jenkins made a couple of massive plays for Baylor in its 36-35 win at UCF. In addition to making two solo tackles, the freshman Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies student nabbed his first career interception on the Baylor 14-yard line to snuff out a UCF drive in the red zone. The pick kickstarted Baylor's largest comeback in school history, but what topped it all was Jenkins' 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. That scoop & score brought BU back within two points and swung the momentum in Baylor's favor, eventually helping the Green & Gold complete the comeback in Orlando.
Mitchell put together a career game in helping Texas defeat No. 24 Kansas. He posted career highs with 10 receptions for 141 yards with a touchdown, including three straight catches for a total of 49 yards on the Longhorns’ first TD drive. He later had a long of 22 yards on the final drive of the first half that helped put Texas in scoring position with less than a minute to go prior to a turnover. The Physical Culture and Sports major caught a nine-yard touchdown reception to start the fourth quarter that extended the Longhorns’ lead to 33-14. His efforts were part of a 661-yard total offense performance, including 336 yards in the air.
Fouonji blocked a punt and returned it for a key first-half touchdown in Texas Tech's 49-28 victory over Houston. He sprinted past the left side of UH’s punt formation to get his hands on Laine Wilkins' attempt, picking it up at the seven and quickly finding the end zone to give the Red Raiders a 28-21 lead midway through the second quarter. It was one of two touchdowns on the day for the Information Technology student, who also hauled in a 25-yard TD reception on Texas Tech's previous offensive drive. The punt return touchdown marked Fouonji's second special teams score in a six-game span as he previously returned a kickoff for a touchdown to wrap the 2022 season finale at the TaxAct Texas Bowl. Texas Tech had two special teams touchdowns in the win over Houston as Drae McCray also returned the opening kickoff 100 yards to the end zone.
Big 12 Players of the Week
October 2
Offense: Jonathon Brooks, UT, RB, So.
Defense: Caden Jenkins, BU, CB, Fr.
Newcomer: Adonai Mitchell, UT, WR, Jr.
Special Teams: Loic Fouonji, TTU, WR, Sr.