IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the fifth week of the 2021 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Desmond Ridder • Sr. • QB • Cincinnati
Ridder had 323 yards of total offense and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) to lead Cincinnati to a 24-13 win at No. 9 Notre Dame to keep the Bearcats undefeated and give them their first road win in program history against a top-10 opponent. Ridder completed 19 of 32 passes for 297 yards and a pair of second-quarter touchdowns to stake the Bearcats to a 17-0 lead. He then led the Bearcats on scoring drives on its first two possessions of the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach after Notre Dame had closed to within four points.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taylor Robinson • Jr. • S • Navy
Robinson had a hand in two late turnovers to help Navy overcome a 30-17 fourth-quarter deficit on its way to a 34-30 win. Robinson set up the go-ahead touchdown with a fumble recovery with 8:28 left and he clinched the game with an interception in the end zone with 24 seconds left as the Knights threatened to take a lead in the closing seconds.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marcus Jones • Sr. • CB • Houston
Jones had 75 yards on four punt returns, averaging 18.8 yards per return, to help Houston win the field position battle in the Cougars’ 45-10 win at Tulsa. He had a long return of 47 yards and enters this week ranked third nationally in punt return average (17.7 ypr).
HONOR ROLL
Bryson Armstrong • Sr. • LB • UCF
Had a career-high 22 tackles, two shy of the American Athletic Conference single-game record, in a 34-30 loss at Navy.
Ahmad Gardner • Sr. • CB • Cincinnati
Had a key interception and led a defense that held No. 9 Notre Dame to 50% passing and a season-low 13 points in a 24-13 win against the Irish.
Keaton Mitchell • Fr. • RB • East Carolina
Rushed for a career-high 222 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-29 win against Tulane. Registered his third consecutive 100-yard game and averaged 14.8 yards per carry.
Tanner Mordecai • Jr. • QB • SMU
Completed 29 of 42 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in a 41-17 win against South Florida. Registered his fifth consecutive game with at least four TD passes.
D’Wan Mathis • RFr. • QB • Temple
Went 35-for-49 for 322 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 win against Memphis. Tied a 53-year-old school single-game record with 35 completions.