PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the 10th week of the 2016 college football season.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Riley Ferguson • Jr. • QB • Memphis • Matthews, N.C.
Ferguson threw for 287 yards and four first-half touchdowns to lead Memphis to a 51-7 win at SMU, keeping the Tigers a game out of first place in The American’s West Division. Ferguson gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead with touchdown passes on the first two drives, while he helped Memphis gain a 38-7 cushion with a 21-yard TD pass with 10 seconds left in the second quarter. Ferguson leads The American with 21 touchdown passes and is the conference leader in pass efficiency (151.9).
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Drico Johnson • Sr. • S • UCF • Orlando, Fla.
Johnson scored two defensive touchdowns in the Knights’ 37-6 win against Tulane as part of a Knight defense that forced five turnovers. He scored on a 30-yard fumble return in the third quarter to give the Knights a 13-6 lead and he added an 86-yard interception return in the fourth quarter to effectively put the game away. Johnson also finished with six tackles.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jake Elliott • Sr. • K • Memphis • Western Springs, Ill.
Elliott scored 15 points, connecting on field goals of 43, 44 and 31 yards and going 6-for-6 on PATs in Memphis’ 51-7 win against SMU. He surpassed the 400-career-points milestone (406) and extended his streak of consecutive made PATs to 184.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Shaquill Griffin • Sr. • CB • UCF • St. Petersburg, Fla.
Had two interceptions, including a 33-yard return for a touchdown, in a 37-6 win against Tulane.
Zay Jones • Sr. • WR • East Carolina • Austin, Texas
Had 13 receptions for a career-high 206 yards and a touchdown in a 45-24 loss at Tulsa; set The American’s single-season receptions record (127) in nine games.
Will Worth • Sr. • QB • Navy • Valrico, Fla.
Rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-27 win against Notre Dame.
Jahad Thomas • Sr. • RB • Temple • Elizabeth, N.J.
Rushed for 83 yards on 17 carries and had four catches for 73 yards and two TDs in a 21-0 win at UConn.
James Flanders • Sr. • RB • Tulsa • Midwest City, Okla.
Rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in a 45-24 win against East Carolina.