IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the 11th week of the 2021 season.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tanner Mordecai • Jr. • QB • SMU
Mordecai completed 37 of 54 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns and had 33 rushing yards to finish with 410 yards of total offense in a 55-28 win against UCF. Mordecai had five completions of 15 or more yards and registered his 10th consecutive game with at least two touchdown passes. Mordecai ranks second nationally with 37 touchdown passes this season and needs one TD pass to tie the American Athletic Conference single-season record of 38, set by Memphis’ Riley Ferguson in 2017.
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Justin Wright • Jr. • LB • Tulsa
Wright led a Tulsa defense that limited Tulane to 308 yards, 12 first downs and 1-for-14 third-down efficiency as the Golden Hurricane took a 20-13 win in overtime. Wright finished with a game-high 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops and a tackle for loss, and had a key tackle on Tulane’s overtime series as Tulsa forced the Green Wave to a three-and-out to win the game. Wright has 63 tackles this season and ranks 10th in The American with 7.0 tackles per game.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Owen Daffer • RFr. • K • East Carolina
Daffer scored a career-high 12 points to lead East Carolina to a 30-29 overtime win at Memphis, giving the Pirates bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2014 season. Daffer went 3-for-3 in field goal attempts, connecting from 24, 29 and 21 yards, and was 3-for-3 on PATs. Two of Daffer’s field goals gave East Carolina a lead, while his PAT on the Pirates’ touchdown in overtime provided the winning point. Daffer ranks third in The American in kicker scoring at 7.7 points per game.
 
HONOR ROLL
Desmond Ridder • Sr. • QB • Cincinnati
Completed 31 of 39 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns and had 65 rushing yards with a TD in a 45-28 win at South Florida. Set Cincinnati’s career record for touchdown passes (79).
 
Ahmad Gardner • Jr. • CB • Cincinnati
Had a sack, a forced fumble, an interception and a quarterback hurry in a 45-28 win at South Florida.
 
Tyler Snead • So. • WR • East Carolina
Had 13 receptions for 113 yards in a 30-29 overtime win at Memphis. 
 
Alton McCaskill • Fr. • RB • Houston
Rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries in a 37-8 win at Temple.
 
Elijah Chatman • Jr. • DT • SMU
Had five tackles with 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss in a 55-28 win against UCF.