IRVING, Texas – The American Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors from Week 9 of the 2026 season.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marcus Stokes • Jr. • QB • Memphis
Marcus Stokes was fantastic in Memphis’ 49-22 win over Army Saturday, accounting for a total of five touchdowns. Stokes completed 29 of 35 passes for 371 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing seven times for 30 yards and adding another score on the ground.
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CJ Hicks • Gr. • DE • South Florida
CJ Hicks tied a school record and became the first American Conference player since 2024 to register at least four sacks in a single game in South Florida’s 30-10 win over UAB. Hicks had five total tackles, 4.0 sacks and a pass deflection in the win over UAB.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TJ Smith • Sr. • KR • Tulane
TJ Smith returned a pair of kickoffs for an average of 63 yards including a 95-yard return for a touchdown to help lead Tulane to a comeback 38-31 overtime win over Charlotte. It was the longest kickoff return by a Tulane player since 2024.
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Dickson Agu, Jr., LB, Tulane
Agu tallied 14 tackles including seven solo stops and 0.5 TFL in Tulane’s 38-31 overtime win over Charlotte.
 
TJ Engleman, Jr., RB, East Carolina
Engleman Jr. rushed 16 times for 107 yards and a touchdown in East Carolina’s 19-7 win over Temple.
 
Tayven Jackson, 5th, QB, UNT
Jackson finished 33 of 46 for 404 yards and four touchdowns while rushing five times for 41 yards in the 48-41 win over Florida Atlantic.
 
Easton Messer, 5th, WR, Florida Atlantic
Messer caught 16 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns against North Texas.
 
Henry Rutledge, 5th, RB, Charlotte
Rutledge rushed 22 times for 121 yards and also had four catches for 79 yards to tally 200 yards of total offense in the loss against Tulane.