DENVER, COLORADO -- SMU senior defensive end Kevin Aldridge and true freshman running back ShanDerrick Charles were honored today as the Western Athletic Conference's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for their pay in the Mustangs 40-14 win over UTEP last Saturday.

Aldridge led SMU to its most dominant defensive performance in three seasons as the Mustangs held the Miners to 182 total yards, including just 66 in the final three periods. The Jacksonville, Texas native recorded a career-high 11 tackles - nine solos and two assists - and had three quarterback sacks. His sacks totaled 21 yards in losses and he finished one sack shy of the school single game mark set by Luke Johnson in 1999 against UTEP. Aldridge is tied for second on the team with 40 tackles this year and has seven stops for loss, which is second on the club.

"Kevin had an oustanding game on Saturday," said SMU head coach Mike Cavan. "He played hard on every down and was all over the field. It was as good a game as he has had since he has been here."

Charles made the first start of his career, carrying 27 times for 212 yards and matched a school record with four touchdowns. His yardage total tied for the sixth best game in SMU history and came one game after he ran for 243 yards (second best game in school history) on 26 carries at San Jose State on Oct. 13.

"ShanDerrick had another outstanding game and is very deserving," Cavan said. "He sees the field very well and has great quickness. His play the last two games has opened some other things up for the offense."

The Port Arthur, Texas product scored all four of his touchdowns in the second half as SMU rallied from a 14-12 halftime deficit. Charles became the first back in school history to record back-to-back 200-yard games and his 455 yards over the last two games is a school record, shattering the previous mark of 348 set by Eric Dickerson in 1982. His TDs came on runs of 4, 22, 15 and 25 yards.