IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the 12th week of the 2021 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Desmond Ridder • Sr. • QB • Cincinnati
Ridder figured in five touchdowns as Cincinnati clinched a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game for the third consecutive season with a 48-14 win against SMU. Ridder led Cincinnati to touchdowns on four of the Bearcats’ first five drives. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns, had a 40-yard touchdown run and added a 17 yard touchdown reception before coming out of the game late in the third quarter. Ridder tied former South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers for the American Athletic Conference’s career record for touchdown responsibility (112).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marcus Jones • Sr. • CB • Houston
Jones helped Houston to an 8-0 finish to American Athletic Conference play as the Cougars beat Memphis 31-13. Jones had six tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups, becoming only the second player in American Athletic Conference history with at least two interceptions and three pass breakups in the same game (joining Cincinnati’s Coby Bryant) Jones is tied for the American Athletic Conference lead with five interceptions in 2021.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Owen Daffer • RFr. • K • East Carolina
Daffer hit a career-long 54-yard field goal as time expired to give East Carolina a 38-35 win at Navy, assuring the Pirates of a winning season for the first time since 2014. Daffer’s gamewinner, the longest game-winning field goal in program history, capped a second consecutive 12-point performance as he went 3-for-3 on field goals, connecting from 37, 25 and 54 yards. Daffer enters this week’s game tied for the American Athletic Conference lead with 17 field goals in 2021.
HONOR ROLL
Johnny Richardson • So. • RB • UCF
Had 14 carries for a career-high 147 yards and a touchdown in a 49-17 win against UConn.
Curtis Brooks • Gr. • DT • Cincinnati
Had 2.0 sacks and three tackles with two quarterback hurries in a 48-14 win against SMU, holding the Mustangs to season lows in points and total yards (199).
Holton Ahlers • Sr. • QB • East Carolina
Completed 27 of 32 passes (84.3%) for 405 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-35 win at Navy.
Michael Pratt • So. • QB • Tulane
Completed 19 of 24 passes for a career-high 311 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-14 win against South Florida.
Josh Johnson • Sr. • WR • Tulsa
Had nine receptions for a career-high 159 yards and a touchdown in a 44-10 win against Temple.