Week 8 Maxwell Football Club Players of the Week

© Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

The Maxwell Football Club honors college football's top performers over the course of the season through weekly awards. The Maxwell Player of the Week award is given to the top offensive player, and the Bednarik Player of the Week award is given to the top defensive player.

Here are the performances that stood out among all the action in Week 8.

Maxwell Player of the Week

QB Cam Ward, Miami

The transfer quarterback from Washington State has been electric on a weekly basis as the leader of the No. 6 Hurricanes (7-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) offense. As Miami entered their toughest test of the season to date against the Louisville Cardinals (4-3, 2-2), many wondered if Ward could once again rise to the occasion.

Ward delivered the Hurricanes yet again, going 21-of-32 passing with 319 yards and 4 touchdowns in the 52-45 win that was full of offensive fireworks. Ward's day was highlighted by his clutch performance in the game's pivotal situations.

Coming out of the half, Miami led 24-17 and received the ball. The Hurricanes offense knew they needed a score to be able to maintain momentum over the high-flying Louisville offense. Ward converted three third-downs on the 14-play, 75-yard drive that ensued and capped the drive off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Xavier Restrepo. The touchdown helped Miami regain a two-score advantage and maintain control of the game's momentum. Behind his leadership, the offense converted on nine of their 15 third-down attempts and on both of their fourth-down attempts.

The performance was the seventh consecutive 300-yard passing game of the year from Ward, setting a new school record. More importantly, the performance led the Hurricane to their first 7-0 start since 2017. If the Hurricanes continue to rely on Ward's poise and ability, they have a chance to turn a great season into one that is truly special.

Bednarik Player of the Week

LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

The talented junior linebacker has asserted himself as one of the best players in the country on one of the nation's best defensive units. After allowing the No. 15 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) to total 547 yards of offense in a 41-34 loss, however, Walker and the rest of the defense faced questions about their legitimacy. As the No. 5 Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1) prepared to face the No. 1 Texas Longhorns (6-1, 2-1) on Oct. 19, Walker and the rest of the defense knew they would need to step up to give their team a chance.

Walker delivered with a performance that altered the landscape of the 2024 college football season. In the Bulldog's dominating 30-15 win over the Longhorns, Walker led a defense that allowed just 29 total rushing yards and 259 yards of total offense. He finished the day with 8 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 1 fumble recovery.

Like Ward, Walker's day was highlighted by his clutch performance in pivotal situations. All three of Walker's sacks came in the first half as Georgia jumped out to a shocking 23-0 lead. His first two sacks came on critical third-downs, consistently stopping the Texas offense from gaining any momentum early on. Walker's tenacious performance played a crucial role in allowing the Texas offense to convert just two-of-15 third-downs and one-of-five fourth-downs.

As a result of Walker's dynamic performance, Georgia's SEC Championship hopes survived for another week. Walker will hope to continue fueling the Bulldog's success as they continue to set their sights on a deep College Football Playoff run.