University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Turner, Lovelace Earn ACC Football Player of the Week Honors
11/24/2025 2:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH – Pitt running back Ja'Kyrian Turner and linebacker Braylan Lovelace earned ACC football player of the week honors for their performances in Pitt's road win at No. 16 Georgia Tech.
True freshman Ja'Kyrian Turner rushed for 201 yards and a touchdown, earning him both ACC Rookie of the Week and ACC Running Back of the Week. Turner capped off his career day with a game-sealing 56-yard rushing score. He became Pitt's first 200-yard rusher since Israel Abanikanda in 2022.
The Wildwood, FL native led all ACC players last week in rushing yards (201), rushing average (9.6), and all-purpose yards (213). His rushing and all-purpose yardage totals were both single-game highs among all ACC freshmen this season.
Turner's 201 yards on the ground were the most by a Pitt freshman since Qadree Ollison (207 vs. Youngstown State) in 2015 and the third most by a Pitt freshman since at least 1995 (James Conner, 229 vs. Bowling Green). It also stands as the most by a Pitt freshman against a Power Four opponent.
Linebacker Braylan Lovelace recorded four tackles and an interception that he returned 100 yards for a touchdown on Saturday night at No. 16 Georgia Tech. His pick-six flipped the momentum in Pitt's road win and is the longest interception return for a touchdown by an ACC linebacker since at least 1996.
Lovelace's return was Pitt's longest interception touchdown since 1908, when Homer Roe had a 105-yard pick-six against West Virginia. It marked the second interception return touchdown of Lovelace's career and his second interception of the season. Two of Lovelace's three career interceptions have been returned for touchdowns.
Pitt returns to Acrisure Stadium this Saturday, November 29, to host No. 13 Miami as they seek a berth in the ACC Championship Game on Senior Day.
