Weekly Awards: Fields, Keltner Big 12 Players of the Week, Mestemaker a Manning Star, Hawkins PFF’s Highest-Graded RB

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Cowboys from all three sides of the ball picked up weekly honors in the Cowboys’ homecoming win against Colorado.

In what was a layup, Oklahoma State Sam Keltner was a Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. LaDainian Fields was named a Defensive Player of the Week. Drew Mestemaker was named a Manning Award Star of the Week. *catches breath* And Caleb Hawkins was PFF’s highest-graded running back.

Keltner: Sam Keltner was responsible for 21 of the Cowboys’ 57 points against Colorado — kicking five field goals and six extra points. That means Keltner was just three points away from tying the Buffaloes by himself.

He is now 18-for-18 on the season, tying an OSU record for the longest streak of makes.

Keltner is one of seven kickers who haven’t missed to this point, but Keltner has five more makes than any other perfect kicker. The closest is Texas A&M’s David Olano (13-for-13).

This is already Keltner’s fourth Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honor this season.

Fields: Fields tied for the team lead with eight tackles against Colorado, but more importantly, he came away with two second-half interceptions, moving his season total to four.

Those four INTs lead the Big 12 and are tied for third nationally with eight other players. Louisville’s Kaleb Beasley and Cal’s Kingston Lopa each have five interceptions.

This is the first time Fields has taken home this hardware this season, but it’s the fourth time a Cowboy has been named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, with Ethan Wesloski taking home the other three.

Mestemaker: Mestemaker actually had his lowest completion percentage of the season against the Buffaloes, but he led an offense that scored 57 points while the Cowboy quarterback didn’t turn the ball over.

And it’s not like the completion percentage (58.3%) was bad, especially considering he threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns with it.

Mestemaker had seven completions of at least 20 yards against Colorado, including a 47-yard touchdown to Miles Coleman and a 52-yard beauty of a pass to Justin Bowick.

Mestemaker ranks second nationally in passing yards with 2,326 yards this season. His 20 passing touchdowns are tied for fourth nationally.

This is the second time this season Mestemaker has been a Manning Award Star, as he was named one after the Cowboys’ upset win against Oregon.

Hawkins: After finishing with 120 rushing yards and 72 receiving yards, Hawkins was PFF’s highest-graded running back from Week 8.

Per PFF, Hawkins forced seven missed tackles against the Buffaloes, while 104 of his rushing yards came after contact.

He is up to 712 rush yards and 272 receiving yards this season. Per PFF, that receiving yardage total ranks second among running backs in the country, trailing only Oregon State’s AJ Newberry (301 yards).

Hawkins ranks fourth in the Big 12 in rushing, coming in just four yards shy of third-place Aiden Flora (Iowa State), who will play against the Pokes this week.