The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the third week of the 2021 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tanner Mordecai • Jr. • QB • SMU
Mordecai passed for 395 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, including a 33-yard score as time expired, to give SMU a 39-37 win at Louisiana Tech. Mordecai was 36 of 48 (75%), turning in the most completions by an American Athletic Conference player this season. His 16 touchdown passes this season are five more than any other FBS player in 2021.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Deshawn Pace • So. • LB • Cincinnati
Pace had a game-high 10 tackles, including nine solo stops and added a key fourth-quarter interception with 4:27 left to preserve Cincinnati’s six-point lead and set up the Bearcats’ final touchdown in a 38-24 at Indiana. He led a defense that limited the Hoosiers to 39 yards in the fourth quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Calvin Austin III • Sr. • WR • Memphis
Austin had nine catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns, but it was his game-changing special teams play that delivered Memphis’ 31-29 win against Mississippi State. The Tigers trailed 21-17 in the fourth quarter when Austin broke through a crowd of players on the Bulldogs’ punt coverage team, picked up the ball at the 6-yard line and raced 94 yards for a touchdown and the longest punt return in American Athletic Conference history. Austin finished with 212 all-purpose yards and three total TDs.
HONOR ROLL
Holton Ahlers • Sr. • QB • East Carolina
Completed 30 of 47 passes for 368 yards and two TDs in a 42-38 win at previously unbeaten Marshall.
Tre Tucker • Jr. • WR • Cincinnati
Had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and added three receptions for 18 yards in a 38-24 win at Indiana.
Donavan Mutin • Jr. • LB • Houston
Had a game-high seven tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 45-0 win against Grambling State.
Jaren Mangham • Jr. • RB • South Florida
Scored three rushing touchdowns (2, 4, 9) in a 38-17 win against Florida A&M.
Davis Brin • Jr. • QB • Tulsa
Completed 31 of 54 passes for a career-high 428 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-20 loss at No. 9 Ohio State.
