IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the week-ending Oct. 21.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michael Pratt • Jr. • QB • Tulane
Pratt accounted for 264 yards of total offense and four total touchdowns to help keep Tulane atop the American Athletic Conference standings in a 35-28 win against North Texas. Pratt completed 15 of 21 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns, helping Tulane build a 28-7 lead. He added 70 rushing yards, including a 19-yard touchdown with 2:34 left that stood up as the gamewinner.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Demetrius Knight II • Jr. • LB • Charlotte
Knight had a team-high nine tackles, including two tackles for loss, to go with two pass breakups to help Charlotte to a 10-7 win at East Carolina, the 49ers’ first American Athletic Conference victory. Knight led a 49er defense that set a program record by holding the Pirates to 127 yards, while forcing East Carolina into seven three-and-outs.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Roderick Daniels Jr. • Jr. • WR • SMU
Daniels provided the backbreaking touchdown on special teams as SMU stayed atop the American Athletic Conference standings with a 55-0 win at Temple. Daniels After the Mustangs forced a three-and-out on Temple’s first possession of the third quarter, Daniels returned the punt 67 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first SMU player to score on a punt return since 2013.
HONOR ROLL
Simeon Blair • Jr. • DB • Memphis
Had six tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in a 45-21 win at UAB.
Blake Watson • Sr. • RB • Memphis
Rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in a 45-21 win at UAB.
Dean Connors • Jr. • RB • Rice
Rushed for a career-high 120 yards and three touchdowns on only nine carries in a 42-10 win at Tulsa.
Josh Pearcy • Jr. • OLB • Rice
Had seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in a 42-10 win at Tulsa.
Nay’Quan Wright • Sr. • RB • South Florida
Rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries — all career highs — in a 24-21 win at UConn. Scored the game-winning touchdown with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter.
2023 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 4 Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
Sept. 11 JT Daniels, QB, Rice
Sept. 18 Preston Stone, QB, SMU
Sept. 25 Byrum Brown, QB, South Florida
Oct. 2 Cardell Williams, QB, Tulsa
Oct. 9 Jermaine Brown Jr., RB, UAB
Oct. 16 Daniel Richardson, QB, Florida Atlantic
Oct. 23 Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
2023 DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 4 Yvandy Rigby, LB, Temple
Sept. 11 Trey Moore, LB, UTSA
Sept. 18 Daquan Evans, S, South Florida
Sept. 25 Kendarin Ray, S, Tulsa
Oct. 2 Tramel Logan, DE, South Florida
Oct. 9 Luke Pirris, LB, Navy
Oct. 16 Trey Moore, LB, UTSA
Oct. 23 Demetrius Knight II, LB, Charlotte
2023 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 4 Seth Morgan, K, Memphis
Sept. 11 Chase Allen, K, UTSA
Sept. 18 Noah Rauschenberg, K, North Texas
Sept. 25 Grant Gonya, P, Charlotte
Oct. 2 Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, LB, Memphis
Oct. 9 Logan Lupo, K/P, Florida Atlantic
Oct. 16 Riley Riethman, P, Navy
Oct. 23 Roderick Daniels Jr., WR, SMU
