IRVING, Texas – The American Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors from Week 3 of the 2025 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jake Retzlaff • Sr. • QB • Tulane
Retzlaff registered 356 yards of total offense and had four rushing touchdowns as Tulane remained undefeated with a 34-27 win against Duke. Retzlaff rushed for a game-high 111 yards on 17 carries and completed 15 of 23 passes for 245 yards. His four rushing touchdowns tied Tulane’s program record for a quarterback.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Shane Whitter • Sr. • LB • North Texas
Whitter led a North Texas defense that limited Washington State to 275 total yards and 10 points in a 59-10 win, improving the Mean Green to 3-0. Whitter had a game-high eight tackles and had a hand in two key turnovers in the first half, helping North Texas build a 42-3 halftime lead. Whitter had a quarterback hurry that forced an interception in the first quarter and he added a 43-yard interception return in the second quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Solomon Beebe • So. • RB/KR • UAB
Beebe finished with 190 all-purpose yards, including 154 yards on kickoff returns, to help UAB to a 31-28 win against Akron. Beebe opened the game with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, registering the Blazers’ first TD on a kickoff return since 2019. Beebe ranks second nationally with 303 yards on kickoff returns in 2025 and is 15th nationally with a 27.5-yard average.
HONORABLE MENTION
Kieran Davis • So. • DL • East Carolina
Had a sack, 2.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 38-0 win at Coastal Carolina, helping the Pirates to their first road shutout since 2000.
Anthony Smith • Gr. • WR • East Carolina
Had 11 receptions for 136 yards – both career highs – in a 38-0 win at Coastal Carolina.
Sutton Smith • Jr. • RB • Memphis
Rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in a 28-7 win at Troy.
MarcAnthony Parker • So. • LB • Navy
Had a career-high 11 tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss and a half-sack in a 42-23 win at Tulsa.
Drew Mestemaker • RFr. • QB • North Texas
Completed 24 of 29 passes for 211 yards and four touchdowns in a 59-10 win against Washington State.
2025 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1 Evan Simon, QB, Temple
Sept. 8 Byrum Brown, QB, South Florida
Sept. 15 Jake Retzlaff, QB, Tulane
2025 DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1 Jhalyn Shuler, LB, South Florida
Sept. 8 Collin Matteson, S, Army
Sept. 15 Shane Whitter, LB, North Texas
2025 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 1 Patrick Durkin, K, Tulane
Sept. 8 Nico Gramatica, K, South Florida
Sept. 15 Solomon Beebe, RB/KR, UAB
