UConn sophomore running back Arkeel Newsome has been named the American Athletic Conference's special teams player of the week on the strength of his 71-yard kickoff return in the 40-13 win over UCF.

Newsome finished with 257 all-purpose yards which is the most for a UConn player since Jordan Todman's 317 against Cincinnati on Nov. 7, 2009.

The timing for the naming of the award is perfect because I did some research on Newsome and especially how his performance over the last three weeks matches up on a national level.

His 586 all-purpose yards rank eighth among FBS players and his 181 receiving yards is fifth among running backs over that span.


RECEIVING YARDS BY RUNNING BACKS
Jalin Marshall Ohio State    12-236-2
Taquan Mizzell, Virginia    13-230-2
Alex Gardner FIU               24-224-0
Ito Smith, S. Mississippi     16-189-0
Arkeel Newsome               11-181-1
ALL-PURPOSE YARDS OVER LAST THREE GAMES
Player            Team                 Yards  Rus-Rec-PR-KO
Tyler Ervin San Jose State       824   (533-130-2-159)
Christian McCaffrey Stanford 812   (477-86--2-251)
Leonard Fournette LSU           667   (635-32-0-0)
Royce Freeman Oregon           610   (486-124-0-0)
Ddevontae Booker Utah          600   (476-124-0-0)
Christian Kirk Texas A&M     600   (22-370-41-167)
Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State        592   (504-88-0-0)
Arkeel Newsome                     586   (221-181-0-184)

Also, the 586 all-purpose yards are the most for any UConn player since Jordan Todman's 764 against Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Syracuse back in 2009.

Quarterback Bryant Shirreffs was named to the AAC's weekly honor roll after throwing for 256 yards and a touchdown and adding 42 rushing yards and another TD.