American Athletic Conference football players are well represented as the National College Football Awards Association has begun the release of the preseason watch lists for some of the game's highest honors.

The American had eight players - the most of any conference - named to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, which honors the top receiver in college football. UCF and Houston had two players each on the list - the Knights were represented by Rannell Hall and Breshad Perriman, while the Cougars had Deontay Greenberry and Daniel Spencer on the list. They were joined by Geremy Davis of UConn, Shaq Washington of Cincinnati, Justin Hardy of East Carolina and Darius Joseph of SMU

The Maxwell Football Club has named five players from The American to the watch list for the Maxwell Trophy, which goes to the national player of the year. East Carolina and Houston had two players each named to the watch list as Pirates quarterback Shane Carden and wide receiver Justin Hardy joins Cougars quarterback John O'Korn and wide receiver Deontay Greenberry. Temple placed quarterback P.J. Walker on the watch list.

Two American Athletic Conference schools have produced past winners of the Maxwell Trophy. Halfback Doak Walker of SMU was the 1947 winner, while Temple quarterback Steve Joachim won in 1974.

Four players from The American were on the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which is presented to the defensive player of the year. Tulane cornerback Lorenzo Doss, an All-America selection in 2013, joins Memphis defensive end Martin Ifedi, Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich and UCF linebacker Terrance Plummer on the preseason list. Tulane cornerback Lorenzo Doss, a 2013 All-America selection, joins Memphis defensive end Martin Ifedi, Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich and UCF linebacker Terrance Plummer on the preseason list of players to watch.

National College Football Awards Association Preseason Watch Lists
American Athletic Conference players

Maxwell Award (Player of the Year)
Shane Carden, QB, East Carolina
Deontay Greenberry, WR, Houston
Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina
John O'Korn, QB, Houston
P.J. Walker, QB, Temple

Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year)
Lorenzo Doss, CB, Tulane
Martin Ifedi, DE, Memphis
Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
Terrance Plummer, LB, UCF

Mackey Award (Top Tight End)
Sean Price, USF

Rimington Trophy (Top Center)
Deyshawn Bond, Cincinnati
Dylan Foxworth, Tulsa
Kyle Friend, Temple
Joey Grant, UCF
Taylor Lasecki, SMU
Alex Mateas, UConn
Bryce Redman, Houston
Austin Reiter, USF

Lou Groza Award (Top Kicker)
Jake Elliott, Memphis
Marvin Kloss, USF
Shawn Moffitt, UCF
Carl Salazar, Tulsa

Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Top Defensive Player)
Lorenzo Doss, CB, Tulane
Martin Ifedi, DE, Memphis
Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
Derrick Mathews, LB, Houston

Outland Trophy (Outstanding Interior Lineman)
Eric Lefeld, OT, Cincinnati
Torrian Wilson, OG, UCF

Jim Thorpe Award (Top Defensive Back)
Lorenzo Doss, Tulane
Clayton Geathers, UCF
Jacoby Glenn, UCF
Trevon Stewart, Houston

Butkus Award (Top Linebacker)
Maurice Falls, ECU
Tyler Matakevich, Temple
Derrick Mathews, Houston
Terrance Plummer, UCF
Stephon Sanders, SMU

Rotary Lombardi Award (Top Lineman)
Martin Ifedi, DE, Memphis
Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
Derrick Mathews, LB, Houston
Silverberry Mouhon, DE, Cincinnati
Terrance Plummer, LB, UCF

Biletnikoff Award (Top Receiver)
Geremy Davis, UConn
Deontay Greenberry, Houston
Rannell Hall, UCF
Justin Hardy, East Carolina
Darius Joseph, SMU
Breshad Perriman, UCF
Daniel Spencer, Houston
Shaq Washington, Cincinnati

Davey O'Brien Award (Top Quarterback)
Shane Carden, East Carolina
John O'Korn, Houston
P.J. Walker, Temple

Doak Walker Award (Top Running Back)
Kenneth Farrow, Houston
Kenneth Harper, Temple
William Stanback, UCF

Walter Camp Award (Outstanding Player)
Shane Carden, QB, East Carolina
Lorenzo Doss, CB, Tulane
Terrance Plummer, LB, UCF