QB Kyron Drones, RB Bhayshul Tuten honored as ACC Players of the Week

Two Virginia Tech Hokies were honored for their performances in Week 5 by the ACC. Quarterback Kyron Drones and Running Back Bhayshul Tuten were selected as the most impressive players at their respective positions in conference action.

Drones completed 12-of-19 passes (63%) for 228 yards, 3 passing touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He also ran 21 times for 41 yards (86 gained, 45 lost) for 2 touchdowns. In total, it was a 5 touchdown performance for Drones, who led the Hokies to their new season high of 38 points scored. 

Tuten had 24 carries for 109 yards (120 gained, 11 lost) and recorded 4 catches for 37 yards and 1 touchdown. In total, he accumulated 146 total yards.

Both players were pivotal for Virginia Tech in their win over Pittsburgh and were selected as the representatives for ACC Players of the Week.

The Full ACC Release on Player's of the Week:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week have been recognized for their standout performances in Week 5 of the season. The selections are determined by a vote of a select media panel. The following are this week’s honorees:

QUARTERBACK – Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech, QB, Pearland, Texas
Drones completed 12-of-19 pass attempts for 228 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Pittsburgh. He also rushed for 41 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for five touchdowns on the night. Drones is the first Virginia Tech player to account for five touchdowns in a game since Josh Jackson did it in 2017 against East Carolina. He is just the sixth Virginia Tech player to accomplish the feat of accounting for at least five touchdowns in a game.

RUNNING BACK – Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech, RB, Paulsboro, N.J.
Tuten carried the ball 24 times for 109 yards, an average of 4.5 yards per carry, in the win over Pittsburgh, including a long of 26 yards. Tuten also tallied four receptions for 37 yards and hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass in the first half to give the Hokies a 21-7 lead.

RECEIVER – Tyler Brown, Clemson, WR, Greenville, S.C.
Brown had a career game versus Syracuse, as he recorded career highs in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (153). He also recorded his first career rushing attempt on a reverse in the second quarter, gaining 23 yards. In the win, Brown posted his first career 100-yard receiving performance in his fifth career game, becoming only the seventh player in Clemson history with a 100-yard receiving game within the first five games of a career.  His 153 receiving yards were also the most by a Clemson player of any grade classification since Cornell Powell’s 176 yards against Pitt in 2020.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Christian Mahogany, Boston College, RG, Elmwood, N.J.
Lining up at right guard, Mahogany played all 78 offensive snaps in BC's come-from-behind victory at home over Virginia. With the starting and backup right tackles both lost to injury during the game, Mahogany withstood the Cavalier pass rush by not allowing a single pressure on 30 drop-back plays. He graded out at a team-best 85.1 on pass blocking according to PFF. Collectively, Mahogany and the BC offensive line unit did not surrender a sack and paved the way for 203 rushing yards, the most by an Eagle offense against an ACC opponent since 2021.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – T.J. Parker, Clemson, DE, Phenix City, Ala.
Parker was credited with five tackles (two for loss) with 2.0 sacks in Clemson’s win at Syracuse. He became the first Clemson true freshman with at least 2.0 sacks in a game since Myles Murphy did so in the 2020 season opener at Wake Forest. Parker also became the third Clemson freshman with 2.0 sacks in a game in the last 10 years, joining Murphy and Dexter Lawrence, both of whom were eventual first-round NFL Draft picks. The first-year Tiger leads all FBS freshmen with 7.5 tackles-for-loss this season.

LINEBACKER – Payton Wilson, NC State, LB, Hillsborough, N.C.
Wilson led the Wolfpack defense that held Louisville to just 13 points, including a scoreless first half, and 20 yards rushing. The linebacker tallied 10 tackles to lead the team (in 68 snaps) - the 18th double-figure tackle output of his career.  He also turned in 2.0 sacks for a loss of 15 yards, recovered a fumble, broke up a Cardinal pass on third down, and added a quarterback hurry. On the drive that resulted in the Wolfpack's only touchdown of the game, Wilson rushed for a first down on a fake punt. He leads the ACC and ranks eighth in the FBS in tackles at 11.2 stops per game. The weekly honor is the second of the season for the veteran linebacker.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Cam’Ron Kelly, Louisville, S, Chesapeake, Va.
Kelly intercepted a pass in the end zone on NC State's first drive of the second half, ending the Wolfpack drive at the Cards' 15-yard line, and forced a fumble which Ramon Puryear recovered to stall another NC State drive. Kelly, who picked up his second weekly conference honor this season, has two interceptions in his first season at Louisville and forced his first fumble since joining the Cards. Louisville held NC State to 201 yards of total offense, its lowest total since a 198-yard performance against Notre Dame in 2016, and to only 112 passing yards, also its lowest total since passing for 41 yards in the 2016 Notre Dame game.

SPECIALIST – Brock Travelstead, Louisville, K/P, Acworth, Ga.
Travelstead set a Louisville record for the longest field goal made in the road win over NC State, connecting from 53 yards to break the record of 52 yards shared by Wilbur Summers, Ron Bell, Klaus Wilmsmeyer, Nate Smith, and Chris Philpott. Travelstead made the record-setting 53-yarder with 5:25 left in the fourth quarter, providing the Cardinals a 13-10 lead, which they never relinquished. He made two of three field goals and his only extra point attempt, connecting from 33 and 53 yards while missing his first attempt from 52 yards. He also helped preserve the victory by drawing a running-into-the-punter penalty with 2:44 left in the game, giving the Cards a first down and forcing NC State to use its last two timeouts, while taking another minute off the clock. The honor is the second of the season for the Louisville specialist.

ROOKIE – Tyler Brown, Clemson, WR, Greenville, S.C.
The true freshman wideout recorded career highs in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (153) in a win against Syracuse last week. Brown picked up his first career 100-yard receiving performance in just his fifth career game, becoming only the seventh player in Clemson history with a 100-yard receiving game within the first five games of a career. His 153 receiving yards were the most by a Clemson true freshman since Justyn Ross’ 153 yards against Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game to conclude the 2018 season and were also the most by a Clemson player of any grade classification since Cornell Powell’s 176 yards against Pitt in 2020. He also recorded his first career rushing attempt on a reverse in the second quarter, gaining 23 yards. The honor is the second Rookie of the Week Award for Brown this season.