IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the final week of the regular season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Byrum Brown • RFr. • QB • South Florida
Brown had a hand in five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) to help South Florida secure bowl eligibility for the first time in five seasons with a 48-14 win against Charlotte. Brown completed 22 of 30 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns and added a 35-yard rushing TD as the Bulls reeled off 503 yards of offense. Brown finishes the regular season ranked seventh nationally in total offense (318.6 ypg) and joins LSU’s Jayden Daniels as the only players nationally with at least 3,000 passing yards and 700 rushing yards this season.
Preston Stone • So. • QB • SMU
Playing against a Navy defense that had held four opponents without a touchdown this season, Stone passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns – all in the first half – to lead SMU to a 59-14 win and complete SMU’s first 8-0 season in conference play in program history. Stone completed 14 of 19 passes, connecting on TD passes of 15, 27 and 26 yards to stake the Mustangs to an early 28-0 lead as SMU built a 52-14 cushion at halftime. Stone, who left the game with an injury late in the second quarter, registered his seventh game this season with at least three touchdown passes.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kam Pedescleaux • Sr. • S • Tulane
Pedescleaux had a hand in two turnovers and a key fourth-down stop to help No. 18 Tulane get a 29-16 win against UTSA, sending the Green Wave to the American Athletic Conference Championship Game for the second consecutive season. Pedescleaux had six tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble to lead a defense that had five takeaways against the Roadrunners. He had a tipped ball on the opening possession that resulted in an interception at the UTSA 10-yard line, added a forced fumble on the Tulane 8 as the Roadrunners were threatening to score, and had a pass breakup on a fourth-and 4 from the Tulane 10 in the fourth quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Noah Rauschenberg • Sr. • K • North Texas
Rauschenberg scored 13 points, including the game-winning 32-yard field goal at the final gun to give North Texas a 45-42 win against UAB. The gamewinner was one of three second-half field goals for Rauschenberg, who also connected from 34 and 24 yards as the Mean Green overcame an 14-point second-half deficit. Rauschenberg finished the season ranked third in The American in field goal percentage (84.2%) and fifth in scoring (7.8 ppg).
HONOR ROLL
Seth Henigan • Jr. • QB • Memphis
Completed 18 of 28 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-21 win at Temple.
Chandler Rogers • Jr. • QB • North Texas
Completed 30 of 53 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-42 win against UAB.
Luke McCaffrey • Jr. • WR • Rice
Had a career-high 12 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown and added 31 rushing yards in a 24-21 win against Florida Atlantic to secure bowl eligibility.
Makhi Hughes • RFr. • RB • Tulane
Rushed for a career-high 166 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown in a 29-16 win against UTSA.
Kendarin Ray • Sr. • S • Tulsa
Had a game-high 15 tackles, including a key third-down stop in the fourth quarter, in a 29-27 win at East Carolina.
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
Oct. 30 Preston Stone, QB, SMU
Nov. 6 Jacob Zeno, QB, UAB
Nov. 13 Seth Henigan, QB, Memphis
Nov. 20 Frank Harris, QB, UTSA
Nov. 27 Byrum Brown, QB, South Florida
Preston Stone, QB, SMU
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
Oct. 30 Trey Moore, LB, UTSA
Nov. 6 Nikhai Hill-Green, LB, Charlotte
Nov. 13 Colin Ramos, LB, Navy
Nov. 20 Colin Ramos, LB, Navy
Nov. 20 Kam Pedescleaux, S, Tulane
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
Oct. 30 Valentino Ambrosio, K, Tulane
Nov. 6 Collin Rogers, K, SMU
Nov. 13 Andrew Conrad, K, East Carolina
Nov. 20 Matt Quinn, K, UAB
Nov. 27 Noah Rauschenberg, K, North Texas
