Some eye-catching numbers around the Baton Rouge high school ranks and winning performances in all three phases at every level headline the latest Players of the Week.
As always, Louisiana vs. All Y’all has identified nine Players of the Week to highlight offensive, defensive and special teams standouts at the high school, college and professional levels.
Congrats to this week’s winners, beginning with some notable capital-area flair.
HIGH SCHOOL
Offense — Cayden Jones (2026), Live Oak QB: The Eagles’ senior quarterback helped spearhead a record-breaking night in a 55-28 win against Ponchatoula with his 17-for-23 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for another 38 yards and a score. Jones broke school records for both passing yards and passing touchdowns with a particularly notable connection with junior Cash Davis, whose 226 yards and three scores set program receiving records.
Defense — Ryan Moore Jr. (2027), East Feliciana ATH: “Bug” provided the Tigers a big game on both sides of the ball in a 47-26 victory against Albany, including a pair of interceptions returned for long defensive touchdowns. Moore wrapped up seven tackles and returned picks 109 and 40 yards for touchdowns, while also catching five passes for 215 yards and two scores on offense rushed five times for 60 yards and another end zone trip.
Special Teams — Ben Jones (2026), St. Michael K/P: The senior specialist was critical in the Warriors’ 16-14 defeat of Istrouma not only with his field goal and extra-point on the scoreboard, but also his three kick-off touchbacks and six punts for an average of 48 yards all looming large in the battle for field position.
COLLEGE
Offense — Garrett Nussmeier, LSU QB: The Lake Charles native and the Tigers’ offense started looking more like themselves Saturday as he continues to heal up from a torso injury that has hindered him early this season. Nussmeier completed 25 for his 31 passes (80.6%) for 273 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-10 roll past Southeastern Louisiana — marking season-highs in completion percentage, yards and touchdowns — and also rushed for a goal-line score and took off for a career-long 26-yard run.
Defense — Kolbe Fields, Louisiana Tech LB: The former Archbishop Rummel standout finished with a team-high nine tackles and a highlight-reel, 48-yard pick-six in the second quarter that helped Louisiana Tech blow open an eventual 30-20 defeat of Southern Miss. Fields’ takeaway and touchdown provided a major spark in the midst of 20 unanswered points by the Bulldogs to break a 10-10 tie.
Special Teams — John Hoyet Chance, Louisiana Tech P: Chance is establishing himself as one of the nation’s best at his craft and had another productive Saturday with eight punts for 398 yards, a 49.8-yard average with a 61-yard long, four kicks of 50-plus yards and four downed inside the 20-yard line. This marks the Captain Shreve product’s second selection here in three weeks.
PROFESSIONAL
Offense — DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles WR: The former Amite star caught eight passes for 60 yards, including the 4-yard, go-ahead touchdown in the final two minutes of a 33-26 defeat of the the Los Angeles Rams. Smith caught three of his passes for 19 yards and the score on the Eagles’ impressive, 91-yard drive with the game on the line, as well as two third-down passes on Philadelphia’s previous touchdown drive late in the third quarter.
Defense — Grant Delpit, Cleveland Browns S: The former LSU safety helped cap a solid overall performance with a critical play late in the Browns’ comeback to stun the Packers, 13-10. Green Bay led, 10-3, late when Delpit snatched a third-down interception and returned the ball all the way to the 4-yard line to set up a game-tying touchdown. He finished with nine tackles, including one for loss, plus the interception and 25-yard return.
Special Teams — KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys RET: The second-straight week for the former Neville star to hold down this award. On a week where other candidates had up-and-down days, Turpin was his typically reliable self with two kick returns for 49 yards and two punt returns for 28 yards, while also providing the Cowboys’ offense some spark with two catches for 64 yards as they work through CeeDee Lamb’s ankle injury.
