IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the first week of the 2021 season.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tanner Mordecai • Jr. • QB • SMU
Mordecai set a school record and tied the American Athletic Conference mark with seven touchdown passes in SMU’s 56-9 win against Abilene Christian. Mordecai completed 24 of 30 passes for 317 yards for the game and had five first-half TDs to help stake the Mustangs to a 35-3 halftime lead.
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kalia Davis • Sr. • DL • UCF
Davis had six tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry to lead a UCF defense that limited Boise State to 283 yards offense and only 20 rushing yards in a 36-31 win. Davis and the Knights held the Broncos to seven second-half points, allowing UCF to rally from a 21-point first-half deficit.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Joe Doyle • Jr. • K • Memphis
A transfer from Tennessee, Doyle accounted for 18 points to lead the Tigers to a 42-17 win against Nicholls. Doyle made all five of his field goal attempts, connecting from 26, 33, 24, 38 and 25 yards and was 3-for-3 on PATs
 
HONOR ROLL
Isaiah Bowser • Sr. • RB • UCF
Rushed for a career-high 172 yards with a touchdown and had four catches for 29 yards in a 36-31 win against Boise State. 
 
Desmond Ridder • Sr. • QB • Cincinnati
Completed 20 of 25 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns and had a rushing TD in a 49-14 win against Miami (Ohio). 
 
Brandon Thomas • Fr. • RB • Memphis
Rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in a 42-17 win against Nicholls. 
 
Nick Anderson • Jr. • LB • Tulane
Had a team-high eight tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss in a 40-35 loss at No. 2 Oklahoma. 
 
Michael Pratt • So. • QB • Tulane
Completed 27 of 44 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing TD in a 40-35 loss at No. 2 Oklahoma.