PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors for the first week of the college football season.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Keevan Lucas • So. • WR • Tulsa • Abilene, Texas
Lucas helped Tulsa rally from a 21-7 deficit as the Golden Hurricane scored a 38-31 double-overtime win against Tulane in both teams’ American Athletic Conference debuts. Lucas had 13 receptions for 233 yards and three touchdowns, finishing six yards shy of the conference’s single-game record for receiving yards. He had touchdown receptions of 43 and 84 yards in the first half, both of which brought Tulsa within seven points of the Green Wave, and his 3-yard TD catch with 2:53 left in regulation forced overtime.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tavon Young • Jr. • CB • Temple • Oxon Hill, Md.
Young registered a pair of interceptions to lead a Temple defense that limited Vanderbilt to 28 yards of offense in the Owls’ 37-7 win. Temple, which had just three defensive interceptions in the entire 2013 season, matched that total in Week 1 behind Young’s two picks — both of which led to points on the offensive end. Young finished the day with two tackles and had a combined 35 yards on his two INT returns.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marvin Kloss • Sr. • K • USF • Naples, Fla.
Kloss, who was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker in 2013, got off to a strong start in 2014 as he scored 12 points, including a 3-for-3 showing on field goals, in USF’s 36-31 win against Western Carolina. Kloss hit first-half field goals of 47, 33 and 26 yards to help the Bulls trail by just one point at halftime after the offense struggled in the first 30 minutes.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Justin Hardy • Sr. • WR • East Carolina • Vanceboro, N.C.
Had eight receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns and threw a 41-yard touchdown pass in a 52-7 win against North Carolina Central. Became the school’s career receptions leader (274).
Jarvis Cooper • Fr. • RB • Memphis • West Memphis, Ark.
Rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries in a 63-0 win against Austin Peay. Became just the third player in school history to reach 100 yards in his first career game (joining DeAngelo Williams in 2002 and Larry Porter in 2006).
Marlon Mack • Fr. • RB • USF • Sarasota, Fla.
Rushed for an American Athletic Conference-record 275 yards on 24 carries with four touchdowns (62, 60, 57, 3) in a 36-31 win against Western Carolina. Scored three second-half touchdowns to help the Bulls rally from a halftime deficit.
P.J. Walker • So. • QB • Temple • Elizabeth, N.J.
Completed 23 of 34 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 21 yards and a TD in a 37-7 win at Vanderbilt.
Sherman Badie • Fr. • RB • Tulane • Metarie, La.
Rushed for 215 yards, including a 90-yard touchdown, on just 15 carries in a 38-31 double-overtime loss at Tulsa. Finished one yard shy of Matt Forte’s freshman rushing record at Tulane.
