Lorenzo Maudin became the second straight Louisville player to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors from the American Athletic Conference when he received the award on Monday. U of L safety Calvin Pryor was the league's honoree last week.
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AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Blake Bortles • Jr. • QB • UCF • Oviedo, Fla.
Bortles led UCF to what might be its best regular-season win in program history as the Knights scored a 34-31 win at Penn State. Bortles completed 20 of 27 passes for 288 yards and matched his career high with three touchdown passes, extending his streak to 11 consecutive games with at least one TD pass. Bortles, who has thrown for 816 yards and seven touchdowns for the 3-0 Knights, ranks second in the American Athletic Conference in pass efficiency (199.5).
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lorenzo Mauldin • Jr. • DE • Louisville • Atlanta, Ga.
Mauldin was the key cog in a defense that limited Kentucky to 13 points in the Cardinals' 27-13 road victory, helping Louisville improve to 3-0. Mauldin had three tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble as the Cardinals kept the Wildcats out of the end zone until midway through the fourth quarter.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Quron Pratt • Sr. • WR • Rutgers • Palmyra, N.J.
Pratt sparked Rutgers to a 28-10 win against Eastern Michigan with the Scarlet Knights' second kickoff return for a touchdown of the 2013 season. After Eastern Michigan closed Rutgers' first-quarter lead to 7-3, Pratt took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a score. It is the first time since the 2009 season that Rutgers has had two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Teddy Bridgewater • Jr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.
Completed 16 of 28 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown in a 27-13 win at Kentucky. Extended his streak to 15 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
Brendon Kay • Sr. • QB • Cincinnati • Marine City, Mich.
Completed 12 of 14 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns in a 66-9 win against Northwestern State.
Paul James • So. • RB • Rutgers • Glassboro, N.J.
Rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries in a 28-10 win against Eastern Michigan. Had touchdown runs of 13, 55 and 52 yards in his third straight 100-yard game.
Steve Longa • So. • LB • Rutgers • Saddle Brook, N.J.
Had a game-high 12 tackles with two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 28-10 win against Eastern Michigan.
Marcus Shaw • Sr. • RB • USF • Arcadia, Fla.
Rushed for a career-high 153 yards on 21 carries in a 28-10 loss to Florida Atlantic.