Pac-12 announces football players of the week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Quarterback Cody Kessler of USC, cornerback Robert Nelson of ARIZONA STATE and place-kicker Andre Heidari, also of USC, have been named offensive, defensive and special teams Pac-12 Players of the Week in football.

Kessler, a sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif., was 25-of-37 for 288 yards and a touchdown in a 20-17 upset win over No. 5 Stanford on Saturday night in the Coliseum. He produced a season-best for both completions and attempts while connecting on 10 in a row as the Trojans held on to a seven point lead entering the third quarter. With the score tied 17-17 and 1:23 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, Kessler completed a 13-yard pass to Marqise Lee on fourth and two to keep a drive alive that ended with a game-winning field goal. 

Nelson, a senior from Lakeland, Fla., led an Arizona State defense that forced four interceptions from the nation’s leading passer in a 30-17 win over Oregon State in Tempe on Saturday night. Nelson collected two interceptions, returning  the second one 23 yards for a game-sealing touchdown late in the fourth quarter, while adding five tackles and a fumble recovery on the night. Nelson now has six interceptions on the year, which is tied for fourth in the nation and is the most for a Sun Devil cornerback in a single season since 1987.

Heidari, junior from Bakersfield, Calif., hit the game-winning 47-yard field goal with 19 seconds to seal the upset victory over Stanford. The game-winner helped the Trojans snap a four-game losing streak to the Cardinal while it was their first game-winning field goal since 2000. Heidari now has 38 field goals in his career.  

Also nominated for offensive player of the week honors were quarterbacks Marcus Mariota of OREGON and Connor Halliday of WASHINGTON STATE; running back Marion Grice of Arizona State and running back/linebacker Myles Jack of UCLA; and COLORADO wide receiver Nelson Spruce. Also nominated for defensive player of the week honors were linebackers Addison Gilliam of Colorado, Erik Kendricks of UCLA and Justin Sagote of Washington State; and USC safety Dion Bailey. Also nominated for special teams player of the week honors was punter Sean Covington of UCLA and Oregon running back/kick returner De’Anthony Thomas.

2013 Pac-12 Football Players of the Week