PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the eighth week of the college football season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
D’Eriq King • Houston • Jr. • QB • Manvel, Texas
King completed 25 of 38 passes for 413 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown to lead Houston to its fourth straight victory - a 49-36 win at Navy. King turned in the second 400-yard game of his career and threw touchdown passes to three different receivers while helping three players register 100 receiving yards each
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nate Evans • UCF • Jr. • LB • Waggaman, La.
Evans had 10 tackles, including a sack, had a pass breakup and delivered a game-changing play in the fourth quarter with a 94-yard fumble return for a touchdown as UCF won its 20th consecutive game – a 37-10 victory at ECU. Evans’ touchdown came early in the fourth quarter as ECU was threatening to close with four points.
Austin Robinson • Houston • Sr. • LB • Pearland, Texas
Robinson, who was also named as the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week, registered a career-high 21 tackles with 2.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss in Houston’s 49-36 win at Navy, keeping the Cougars atop The American’s West Division standings. Robinson’s tackles total ranks second on The American’s single-game chart.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matthew Wright • UCF • Sr. • K • Lancaster, Pa.
Wright scored 13 points, going 3-for-3 on field goal tries with four PATs in UCF’s 37-10 win at ECU. Wright connected on field goals of 39, 41 and 46 yards, providing the Knights with their first six points on a day in which they were without American Offensive Player of the Year McKenzie Milton.
HONOR ROLL
David Pindell • UConn • Sr. • QB
Rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 133 yards in a 38-30 loss at No. 21/20 USF.
Johnny Ford • USF • Fr. • RB
Rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries in a 38-30 win against UConn. Averaged 23.4 yards per carry.
Nick Roberts • USF • Fr. • DB
Had 10 tackles and a 61-yard interception return in a 38-30 win against UConn.
Ben Hicks • SMU • Jr. • QB
Completed 21 of 40 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winning TD with 1:15 left, in a 27-23 win at Tulane.
Donnie Lewis Jr. • Tulane • Jr. • CB
Had a team-high eight tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss to go with a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 27-23 loss to SMU.