IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the sixth week of the 2021 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jerome Ford • Jr. • RB • Cincinnati
Ford rushed for a career-high 149 yards and two touchdowns to lead a Cincinnati to a 52-3 win against Temple, keeping the Bearcats unbeaten. Ford scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to stake the Bearcats to a 17-0 lead in the second quarter and he broke the game open on a 75-yard TD on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Ford averaged 9.9 yards per carry as he finished with 15 carries.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tatum Bethune • So. • LB • UCF
Bethune had a career-high 17 tackles to lead the Knights defense in a 20-16 win against East Carolina. Bethune had 11 solo stops to lead a unit that held the Pirates, who had averaged 41.7 points in their last three games, to a season-low 16. Bethune figured in the tackle on 24 percent of East Carolina’s offensive plays.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bryan Massey • So. • S • SMU
Massey had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to help SMU to a 31-24 win against Navy, keeping the Mustangs unbeaten in 2021. Massey’s return came with SMU trailing 21-7 and sparked a comeback that saw the Mustangs outscore the Midshipmen 24-3 to close the game. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by an SMU player since CJ Sanders’ 100-yard return against Navy Nov. 23, 2019.
HONOR ROLL
Coby Bryant • Gr. • CB • Cincinnati
Had six tackles, an interception and a pass breakup in a 52-3 win against Temple, helping to hold the Owls to 236 yards.
Logan Hall • Jr. • DT • Houston
Had five tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss in a 40-22 win at Tulane, leading a Cougar defense that registered eight sacks on the day.
Calvin Austin III • Sr. • WR • Memphis
Had 13 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown in a 35-29 loss at Tulsa.
Shamari Brooks • Sr. • RB • Tulsa
Rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in a 35-29 win against Memphis.
Justin Wright • Jr. • LB • Tulsa
Had a career-high 14 tackles with a sack, 2.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 35-29 win against Memphis.