PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the ninth week of the 2019 college football season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Kevin Mensah • UConn • Jr. • RB • Worcester, Mass.
Mensah rushed for 164 yards and a career-high five touchdowns — the most by an FBS player this season — in UConn’s 56-35 win at Massachusetts. Mensah’s first two touchdowns gave the Huskies the lead as he became the first UConn player with five rushing TDs in a game since the 1993 season.
Jamale Carothers • Navy • So. • FB • Bowling Green, Ky.
Carothers rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns and had a 31-yard touchdown reception to help Navy to a 41-38 win against Tulane, improving the Midshipmen to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in The American. Carothers scored all four touchdowns by Navy’s offense, converting runs of 52, 35, 31 and 15 yards.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Patrick Nelson • SMU • Sr. • LB • Chicago, Ill.
Nelson had seven tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble to help SMU to a 34-31 win at Houston, keeping the Mustangs unbeaten at 8-0 overall. Nelson’s strip sack early in the third quarter gave SMU the ball at the Houston 2-yard line, allowing the Mustangs to build a 28-13 lead.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bijan Nichols • Navy • Fr. • K • Heath, Texas
Nichols scored 11 points, including the game-winning field goal from 48 yards as time expired, to help Navy to a 41-38 win against Tulane. Nichols also connected on a 31-yard field goal to give Navy a 24-0 lead in the second quarter and was 5-for-5 on PATs to help the Midshipmen clinch bowl eligibility.
HONOR ROLL
Dillon Gabriel • UCF • Fr. • QB
Passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns (20, 28, 73) in a 63-21 win at Temple.
Marquez Stevenson • Houston • Jr. • WR
Had five receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns, including an American Athletic Conference-record 96-yard TD, in a 34-31 loss to No. 16 SMU.
Kenneth Gainwell • Memphis • Fr. • RB
Rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns (20, 62, 1) in a 42-41 win at Tulsa.
Jordan Cronkrite • USF • Sr. • RB
Rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns (5, 10) in a 45-20 win at ECU.
Shamari Brooks • Tulsa • Jr. • RB
Rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 36 carries.