IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the opening weeks of the 2020 college football season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brady White • Memphis • Sr. • QB • Santa Clara, Calif.
White was chosen as the Davey O’Brien National Offensive Player of the Week after the opening week of the 2020 season as he led the Tigers to a 37-24 win against Arkansas State. White completed 27 of 37 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns, including two third-quarter TDs that effectively put the game away. White. who registered his fifth career game with at least four touchdown passes, finished with 319 yards of total offense as he finished with a career-high 39 rushing yards against the Red Wolves.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cameron Sample • Tulane • Sr. • DE • Snellville, Ga.
Sample keyed a defensive effort that held South Alabama without a touchdown for the final 27:15, allowing the Green Wave to rally for a 27-24 road win. Sample registered seven tackles along with 2.0 sacks, a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries against the Jaguars and helped clinch the game with a key sack on second down and a pass rush that led to an incomplete on third down of South Alabama’s final series.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chris Naggar • SMU • Sr. • K • Arlington, Texas
Naggar, a transfer from Texas, accounted for seven points to provide the winning margin in SMU’s 31-24 victory at Texas State in the Mustangs’ season-opener. He kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:20 left to give SMU a 10-point lead, while he went 4-for-4 on PATs in his Mustang debut.
HONOR ROLL
Sean Dykes • Memphis • Sr. • TE
Had 10 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-24 win against Arkansas State.
Antonio Grier • USF • Jr. • LB
Had a team-high 10 tackles with a sack to lead a defense that kept The Citadel out of the end zone in a 27-6 win.
Kelley Joiner • USF • So. • RB
Rushed for a game-high 87 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, averaging 10.9 yards per carry, in a 27-6 win against The Citadel.
Shane Buechele • SMU • Sr. • QB
Completed 26 of 36 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown in a 31-24 win at Texas State.
Tyjae Spears • Tulane • RFr. • RB
Rushed for a career-high 105 yards on 11 carries, averaging 9.5 yards per attempt, in a 27-24 win at South Alabama.