Justin Thomas receives national player of the week award

Georgia Tech senior quarterback Justin Thomas’ 459 yards of total offense against Duke was the third highest total for a player in school history. SPECIAL/Daniel Varnado

Georgia Tech senior quarterback Justin Thomas’ 459 yards of total offense against Duke was the third highest total for a player in school history. SPECIAL/Daniel Varnado

Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas’ performance against Duke was recognized Sunday as he was named the Walter Camp national player of the week. Thomas gained 459 yards of total offense, the third highest total in school history in the Yellow Jackets 38-35 win at Bobby Dodd Stadium Saturday.

“You have to look at Justin Thomas and say he might have had his finest hour,” Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. “He played like a senior, that’s what I told him after the ballgame.”

Thomas completed 10 of 14 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns and also ran 17 times for 195 yards and two touchdowns. His effort scored a 99.7 on ESPN’s total quarterback rating, which was the highest for an FBS player this season. Thomas also became just the fourth FBS player since 2000 to rush for 190 yards and two touchdowns and throw for 250 with two touchdown passes. His 276.97 passing efficiency rating was also third highest in school history.

In the game, Thomas also became the 39th player in FBS history with 4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in a career.

“That’s huge,” Thomas said. “As many people as have played the game and for me to be 39th, to do that, especially in this type of era and the quarterbacks that have come through college football, I think that’s a great accomplishment, but it’s not all me, though. The guys had to have protected and the guys had to make plays to do it for me to be in that situation, so that’s huge.”