PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, the most prolific scorer in major college football history, and Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich, a finalist for the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player, were honored as the American Athletic Conference’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year by the league’s 12 head coaches.
Memphis kicker Jake Elliot was chosen as The American’s Special Teams Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. UCF wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith was the coaches’ choice as Rookie of the Year.
Houston coach Tom Herman and Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, who led their respective teams to 7-1 conference records in the league’s West Division, shared The American’s Coach of the Year honor.
Reynolds was chosen as the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year after he rushed for 1,093 yards and a league-leading 19 touchdowns in the regular season. Reynolds also threw six touchdown passes with one interception in 84 attempts. He enters the annual Army-Navy game as the NCAA career leader in touchdowns scored (83), rushing touchdowns (83) and points scored (500) and is second among all active FBS players with 4,195 career rushing yards. Reynolds is second among all American Athletic Conference players in rushing this season (99.4 yards per game) and is ranked sixth among NCAA FBS players in scoring (10.4 ppg). Considered by some analysts as the greatest triple-option quarterback of all-time, Reynolds leads an offense that has committed just seven turnovers in 2015 – the fewest in the nation.
Matakevich was named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after he registered his fourth consecutive season with at least 100 tackles – a feat accomplished by only six other players in NCAA FBS history. Matakevich enters the American Athletic Conference Football Championship with 118 tackles in 2015 to go with 4.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions and 10 passes defended. He is the only player in FBS football who has led his team in tackles in every game this season, and he is one of three finalists nationally for the Bednarik Award, joining Alabama’s Reggie Ragland and Penn State’s Carl Nassib. The NCAA’s active career leader in tackles (461), Matakevich also was the only player to be unanimously named to The American’s all-conference first team. He is one of two players in The American earn first-team all-conference recognition in each of the last three seasons.
Elliott becomes the first player in American Athletic Conference history to repeat as a major individual award winner as he was named Special Teams Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. His selection marks the third straight season in which a Memphis player won the award (Tom Hornsey, 2013). Elliott is The American’s leading scorer in 2015, with 128 points on a league-high 22 field goals and 62 PATs. A finalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker, Elliott has made 9 of 10 field goal attempts from 40 yards or longer. He joins Temple’s Tyler Matakevich as a first-team all-conference selection in each of the last three seasons.
Smith was a bright spot for UCF on his way to Rookie of the Year honors in The American as he finished with 52 receptions for 724 yards and four touchdowns – all team highs. Smith had more than twice as many receptions and receiving yards as any other UCF player, while he finished among the league’s top 10 in both categories.
Herman earned American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors from his counterparts in his first year as a collegiate head coach after he led Houston to an 11-1 regular season, a share of the West Division title and a spot in the American Athletic Conference Football Championship. He was the last first-year head coach nationally to remain undefeated as the Cougars won their first 10 games of the 2015 season.
Niumatalolo was also named American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after he led Navy to a 9-2 regular-season and a 7-1 mark in the Midshipmen’s first year as a conference member. Navy has been ranked in the top 25 in each of the last four weeks – a feat last accomplished in Annapolis in 1978. Along the way, Navy has committed the fewest penalties (35) and has the fewest turnovers (7) of any team in the nation. The Midshipmen, who have accepted a bid to play in the Military Bowl, would tie the program record with a win in either of its last two games.
In addition to the major award-winners, The American also named its first, second and honorable mention all-conference teams. Houston had a league-leading 12 selections, while Temple had a league-high seven players named to the first team.
Five players were repeat selections to the all-conference first team, including Matakevich and Elliott. The others are Houston wide receiver Demarcus Ayers, Cincinnati offensive guard Parker Ehinger and USF running back Marlon Mack.
2015 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy (Sr., Antioch, Tenn.)
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple (Sr., Stratford, Conn.)
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jake Elliott, K, Memphis (Jr., Western Spring, Ill.)
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Tre’Quan Smith, WR, UCF (Fr., Delray Beach, Fla.)
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACHES OF THE YEAR
Tom Herman, Houston
Ken Niumatalolo, Navy
|
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM |
|
Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
|
WR |
Demarcus Ayers 1 |
Houston |
Jr. |
5-11 |
190 |
Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster |
|
WR |
Keyarris Garrett 2 |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-4 |
221 |
Daingerfield, Texas/Daingerfield |
|
OT |
Parker Ehinger 1 |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-7 |
318 |
Rockford, Mich./Rockford |
|
OT |
Taylor Fallin |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-6 |
330 |
Bowie, Md./Bowie |
|
OG |
E.K. Binns |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-3 |
295 |
Cape Coral, Fla./Island Coast |
|
OG |
Eric Lofton |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-5 |
302 |
Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley |
|
C |
Kyle Friend 2 |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-2 |
305 |
Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley |
|
TE |
Bryce Williams 2 |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
6-6 |
258 |
Winston-Salem, N.C./Marshall |
|
QB |
Paxton Lynch 2 |
Memphis |
Jr. |
6-7 |
245 |
Deltona, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy |
|
QB |
Keenan Reynolds |
Navy |
Sr. |
5-11 |
205 |
Antioch, Tenn./Goodpasture Christian |
|
RB |
Marlon Mack 1 |
USF |
So. |
6-0 |
195 |
Sarasota, Fla./Booker |
|
RB |
Jahad Thomas |
Temple |
Jr. |
5-10 |
180 |
Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth |
|
K |
Jake Elliott 1 1 |
Memphis |
Jr. |
5-10 |
165 |
Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township |
|
RS |
Demarcus Ayers |
Houston |
Jr. |
5-11 |
190 |
Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster |
|
DL |
Will Anthony |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-1 |
254 |
Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian |
|
DL |
Matt Ioannidis 2 |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-4 |
292 |
Ringoes, N.J./Hunterdon Central |
|
DL |
Nate D. Smith |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-0 |
236 |
Highland Park, N.J./Fork Union |
|
DL |
Tanzel Smart |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-1 |
304 |
Baton Rouge, La./Scotlandville Magnet |
|
LB |
Zeek Bigger 2 |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
6-2 |
216 |
Gastonia, N.C./Ashbrook |
|
LB |
Elandon Roberts |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-0 |
235 |
Port Arthur, Texas/Morgan State |
|
LB |
Tyler Matakevich * 1 1 |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-1 |
232 |
Stratford, Conn./St. Joseph’s |
|
LB |
Nico Marley H |
Tulane |
Jr. |
5-10 |
208 |
Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay |
|
CB |
Jamar Summers |
UConn |
So. |
6-0 |
185 |
Orange, N.J./Orange |
|
CB |
Deatrick Nichols |
USF |
So. |
5-10 |
189 |
Miami, Fla./Miami Central |
|
S |
Trevon Stewart 2 |
Houston |
Sr. |
5-10 |
195 |
Patterson, La./Patterson |
|
S |
Alex Wells |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-0 |
203 |
Baltimore, Md./Overlea |
|
P |
Spencer Smith 2 |
Memphis |
So. |
6-1 |
195 |
Newnan, Ga./East Coweta |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* unanimous selection |
|
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM |
|
Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
|
WR |
Shaq Washington |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
5-9 |
179 |
Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights |
|
WR |
Isaiah Jones |
East Carolina |
Jr. |
6-1 |
197 |
Austin, Texas/Stephen F. Austin |
|
OT |
Alex Cooper |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-4 |
305 |
Bellaire, Texas/Second Baptist |
|
OT |
Dion Dawkins |
Temple |
Jr. |
6-5 |
318 |
Rahway, N.J./Rahway |
|
OG |
Ryan Leahy |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
6-6 |
292 |
Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle |
|
OG |
Thor Jozwiak |
USF |
Sr. |
6-4 |
318 |
Eagle Lake, Fla./Lake Region |
|
C |
Deyshawn Bond |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
6-1 |
291 |
Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central |
|
TE |
Sean Price |
USF |
Sr. |
6-3 |
252 |
Citra, Fla./North Marion |
|
QB |
Greg Ward Jr. |
Houston |
Jr. |
5-11 |
185 |
Tyler, Texas/John Tyler |
|
RB |
Kenneth Farrow 2 |
Houston |
Sr. |
5-10 |
220 |
Hurst, Texas/L.D. Bell |
|
RB |
Chris Swain |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-1 |
245 |
Macon, Ga./Mount de Sales Academy |
|
K |
Andrew Gantz 2 |
Cincinnati |
So. |
5-9 |
170 |
Dayton, Ohio/Centerville |
|
RS |
Rodney Adams |
USF |
Jr. |
6-1 |
190 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Toledo |
|
DL |
Silverberry Mouhon 2 |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-3 |
255 |
Norcross, Ga./Norcross |
|
DL |
Julian Campenni |
UConn |
Sr. |
6-0 |
306 |
West Pittston, Pa./Wyoming Area |
|
DL |
B.J. Singleton |
Houston |
Jr. |
6-4 |
305 |
Destrehan, La./Destrehan |
|
DL |
Eric Lee |
USF |
Sr. |
6-3 |
260 |
Daphne, Ala./Daphne |
|
LB |
Eric Wilson |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
6-2 |
219 |
Redford, Mich./Northwestern |
|
LB |
Montese Overton |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
6-3 |
221 |
Greenville, N.C./South Central |
|
LB |
Steven Taylor |
Houston |
Jr. |
6-1 |
225 |
Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill |
|
LB |
Auggie Sanchez |
USF |
So. |
6-2 |
244 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast |
|
CB |
William Jackson III 2 |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-2 |
195 |
Houston, Texas/Trinity Valley CC |
|
CB |
Sean Chandler |
Temple |
So. |
5-11 |
185 |
Camden, N.J./Camden |
|
S |
Andrew Adams |
UConn |
Sr. |
6-0 |
198 |
Fayetteville, Ga./Woodward Academy |
|
S |
Adrian McDonald 1 |
Houston |
Sr. |
5-11 |
205 |
Lawton, Okla./Eisenhower |
|
P |
Caleb Houston |
UCF |
Jr. |
6-1 |
210 |
Cleveland, Tenn./Walker Valley |
|
P |
Mattias Ciabatti 1 |
USF |
Sr. |
6-0 |
200 |
Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough |
|
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION |
|
Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
|
WR |
Rodney Adams |
USF |
Jr. |
6-1 |
190 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Toledo |
|
OT |
Ike Harris 2 |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
6-7 |
309 |
Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork |
|
OT |
Joey Gaston |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-5 |
281 |
Knoxville, Tenn./Knoxville Catholic |
|
OG |
J.T. Boyd 2 |
East Carolina |
Jr. |
6-4 |
298 |
Fort Mill, S.C./Nation Ford |
|
C |
Will Noble |
Houston |
Fr. |
6-4 |
290 |
Leander, Texas/Rouse |
|
TE |
Alan Cross 1 |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-1 |
235 |
Millington, Tenn./Millington |
|
DL |
Haason Reddick |
Temple |
Jr. |
6-1 |
225 |
Camden, N.J./Haddon Heights |
|
DL |
Folorunso Fatukasi |
UConn |
So. |
6-4 |
304 |
Far Rockaway, N.Y./Beach Channel |
|
LB |
Junior Joseph |
UConn |
So. |
6-1 |
242 |
Sinking Springs, Pa./Wilson Westlawn |
|
LB |
Trent Martin |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-2 |
230 |
Jenks, Okla./Jenks |
|
S |
Zach Edwards |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
6-1 |
200 |
Middletown, Ohio/Middletown |
|
S |
Michael Mudoh |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
5-10 |
205 |
Richmond, Texas/Bush |
1 2 H indicates previous selections to first team, second team, or honorable mention