ASU’s Jaren Hamilton, Arizona’s Noah Fifita honored among Big 12 Players of the Week

The Big 12 named its Players of the Week from Week 3 on Monday, which included Arizona State special teams returner Jaren Hamilton, linebacker Owen Long and Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita.

In the Sun Devils’ 24-17 win against Kansas in London on Saturday, Hamilton returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a 100-yard touchdown.

It was ASU’s first kickoff return touchdown since D.J. Taylor’s opening kickoff return score against Arizona in the Territorial Cup in 2020.

The other Big 12 players honored were West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., BYU wide receiver Legend Glasker, UCF defensive back Demari Henderson and Texas Tech punter Will Karoll.

Noah Fifita honored after etching name in Arizona record books

Fifita threw a season-high 325 yards and four touchdowns, while adding a score on the ground in the Wildcats’ 42-17 win over Northern Illinois.

In the fourth quarter, Fifita broke Nick Foles’ program record for career passing yards, surpassing the 10,011-yard mark that Foles threw in three seasons (2009-11) with the Wildcats.

The senior quarterback holds the program record for most touchdown passes with 80, a record he set last season.

Through three games this season, Fifita has passed for 843 yards (third in the Big 12), seven touchdowns (tied for third) and one interception.

Owen Long receives honor after impressive performance

Long, who transferred to ASU after playing his two previous years at Colorado State, led the Sun Devils’ defense with 12 tackles, while also registering an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the win.

The junior linebacker had a hand in all three takeaways for ASU. On the second Kansas turnover, Long forced a fumble that defensive lineman Hyrum Vaeono returned for 77 yards, setting up a Cutter Boley rushing touchdown that put the Sun Devils up 24-7 in the fourth quarter.

Through three games, Long leads the Sun Devils with 25 tackles.

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