IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the seventh week of the 2021 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jerome Ford • Jr. • RB • Cincinnati
Ford set a career high for the second consecutive week as he rushed for 189 yards and four touchdowns to lead Cincinnati to a 56-21 win against UCF, keeping the Bearcats unbeaten. Ford had all four touchdowns in the first half, helping to stake the Bearcats to a 35-0 lead late in the second quarter as he scored on runs of 1, 2, 79 and 4 yards. He averaged 9.5 yards per carry for the game, hitting his career high on 20 attempts, and enters Week 8 as The American’s rushing leader at 118.2 yards per game with a league-leading 12 rushing touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Justin Wright • Jr. • LB • Tulsa
Wright had a team-high seven tackles, which included 2.5 sacks, to help Tulsa to a 32-31 come-from-behind win at South Florida. Wright’s final sack came on the Bulls’ final possession after the Golden Hurricane had taken its first lead, while he had a first-quarter sack that effectively ended another potential scoring opportunity. .
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brian Battie • Fr. • RB • South Florida
Battie became the ninth American Athletic Conference player in league history to register a 100-yard kickoff return when he took a second-quarter return from end zone to end zone in the Bulls’ 32-31 loss to Tulsa. Battie’s return gave South Florida a 17-10 lead after Tulsa had tied the game at 10-10. Battie is averaging 28.6 yards per return this season, which ranks second among American Athletic Conference players.
HONOR ROLL
Coby Bryant • Gr. • CB • Cincinnati
Scored a touchdown on a 74-yard interception return to lead a defense that limited UCF to a season-low 296 yards and 141 passing yards in a 56-21 win.
Xavier Cullens • Sr. • LB • Memphis
Had a game-high 12 tackles, including eight solo stops and 0.5 tackles for loss, in a 35-17 win against Navy. Led a defense that limited the Midshipmen to 241 total yards.
Antonio Grier • Jr. • LB • South Florida
Had seven tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a 69-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 32-31 loss to Tulsa.
Shamari Brooks • Sr. • RB • Tulsa
Rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in a 32-31 win at South Florida. Scored the game-winning touchdown with 47 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Deneric Prince • Jr. • RB • Tulsa
Rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in a 32-31 win at South Florida.