American Athletic Conference News: Weekly Football Honors – Sept. 27

Mon, Sep 27, 2021

IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the fourth week of the 2021 season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Davis Brin • Jr. • QB • Tulsa

Brin led Tulsa to a 41-34 win against Arkansas State as he completed 17 of 25 passes for 355 yards and touchdown passes of 83, 34 and 17 yards. Brin led the Golden Hurricane on three scoring drives in the final five minutes of the first half to turn a 14-7 deficit into a 24-14 lead that Tulsa would not relinquish. Brin ranks second in The American with 302.0 yards per game in 2021.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Derek Parish • Jr. • LB • Houston

Parish had a game- and career-high 12 tackles, including a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss to help Houston to a 28-20 win against Navy in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Parish led a defense that limited Navy to 64 total yards in the second half as the Cougars held the Midshipmen to 0-for-6 efficiency on third down in the final 30 minutes. Parish has team highs of 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss for Houston, which leads The American in total defense (255.7 ypg).

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Marcus Jones • Sr. • CB • Houston

Jones had 152 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including a 73-yard punt return for a score, in Houston’s 28-20 win against Navy. Jones, the only player in NCAA FBS with two punt return touchdowns this season, registered his second consecutive game with a special teams touchdown and became the first Houston player since 2011 to have punt return and receiving TDs in the same game.

HONOR ROLL

Ja’Quan McMillian • So. • CB • East Carolina

Had 10 tackles, tying his career high, and had a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 31-28 win against Charleston Southern.

JJ Russell • Sr. • LB • Memphis

Had a career-high 18 tackles — the most by an American Athletic Conference player in a game this season — in a 31-28 loss to UTSA.

Ulysses Bentley IV • So. • RB • SMU

Rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in a 42-34 win at TCU.

Danny Gray • Jr. • WR • SMU

Had four receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in a 42-34 win at TCU.

Zack Long • Gr. • K • Tulsa

Scored 11 points, connecting on field goals of 41 and 45 yards and going 5-for-5 on PATs in a 41-34 win against Arkansas State.

COURTESY AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COMMUNICATIONS