From the American:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the sixth week of the college football season.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Greg Ward Jr. • Jr. • QB • Houston • Tyler, Texas
Ward accounted for 325 yards of total offense and scored four rushing touchdowns to help Houston to a 49-28 win against SMU, keeping the Cougars unbeaten at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the American Athletic Conference. Ward rushed for 82 yards on 14 carries while setting Houston’s single-game record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. He also had a passer rating of 202.29 as he completed 16 of 18 passes for 243 yards without an interception. Ward ranks third among all FBS players with 11 rushing touchdowns this season.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Steven Taylor • Jr. • LB • Houston • Cedar Hill, Texas
Taylor registered three sacks for the second consecutive game in Houston’s 49-28 win against SMU. He finished the game with eight tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks for losses of 33 yards. He also had three quarterback hurries to lead a Cougar defense that limited SMU to 89 second-half yards. Taylor leads The American and is ranked second nationally in sacks, averaging 1.6 per game.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Arkeel Newsome • So. • RB • UConn • Ansonia, Conn.
Newsome finished with 106 yards on three kickoff returns as part of a day in which he amassed 257 all-purpose yards in UConn’s 40-13 win at UCF. Newsome took the opening kickoff of the third quarter 71 yards to set up a UConn field goal, while he also finished with a game-high 84 rushing yards with two touchdowns and four receptions for a game-high 67 yards.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Bryant Shirreffs • So. • QB • UConn • Jefferson, Ga.
Completed 16 of 22 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 42 yards and a TD in a 40-13 win at UCF.
Marlon Mack • So. • RB • USF • Sarasota, Fla.
Rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in a 45-24 win against Syracuse.
Deatrick Nichols • So. • CB • USF • Miami, Fla.
Had career highs of seven tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss with a forced fumble in a 45-24 win against Syracuse.
Matt Ioannidis • Sr. • DE • Temple • Ringoes, N.J.
Had six tackles and 1.5 sacks for losses of 10 yards in a 49-10 win against Tulane. Helped hold the Green Wave to eight first downs, eight rushing yards and 110 yards of total offense.
Matt Linscott • Jr. • LB • Tulsa • Tulsa, Okla.
Had six tackles, one sack and a key fourth-quarter interception in a 34-24 win against Louisiana-Monroe.
