PROVIDENCE, R.I. – USF quarterback Quinton Flowers, who has led the Bulls to their most successful season in program history, and UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin, who has helped the Knights to a remarkable turnaround in 2016, were honored as the American Athletic Conference’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year by the league’s 12 head coaches.
Memphis return specialist Tony Pollard was chosen as The American’s Special Teams Player of the Year. Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver was the coaches’ choice as Rookie of the Year.
Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, who led the Midshipmen to the outright West Division title, won The American’s Coach of the Year honor for the second straight year.
Flowers was chosen as the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year after he finished the regular season as the only player in the conference to both throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000. He set school records for total offense (3,976 yards), rushing yards (1,425), rushing touchdowns (15) and total touchdowns (37) and is the American Athletic Conference leader in pass efficiency (153.5). Flowers set the American Athletic Conference single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback and ranked third among all league players in rushing, averaging 118.8 yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry. Beyond the numbers, Flowers directed a USF offense that scored at least 30 points in every game this season, and in 15 straight games, dating to 2015, helping the Bulls to 10 wins for the first time in school history. Flowers is the first USF player to win a major individual football award from the conference.
Griffin becomes the third UCF player to win a major football honor from The American, following Blake Bortles (the 2013 Offensive Player of the Year) and Jacoby Glenn (the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year). Griffin made an immediate impact in his first year as a starter, finishing as the American Athletic Conference leader in sacks (11.0) and ranking third in the conference in tackles for loss (19.0). Griffin finished the regular season with 85 total tackles along with two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, six pass breakups and an interception, helping the Knights - who went winless in 2015 - to six wins and bowl eligibility in 2016.
Pollard continued Memphis’ hold on The American’s Special Teams Player of the Year award, giving the Tigers the winner of that honor for the fourth straight year (joining punter Tom Hornsey in 2013 and kicker Jake Elliott, who won in 2014 and 2015). Pollard ranks ninth nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 28.4 yards per attempt, and had 993 yards on kickoffs as a freshman. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, finishing the regular season as the only player in The American with more than one special teams touchdown. Prior to this season, Memphis had not scored on a kickoff return since 1996.
Oliver becomes the second Houston player to be named as The American Rookie of the Year (quarterback John O’Korn won in 2013). A unanimous selection to the all-conference first team as well, Oliver made an immediate impact on the Cougars, who finished the regular season ranked second nationally in rushing defense (97.9 yards per game). Oliver finished second in the conference in tackles for loss (19.5) and had 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, a team-high nine pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries.
Niumatalolo repeated as American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after his Midshipmen went 7-1 in American Athletic Conference play for the second consecutive year, clinching the West Division title and home field advantage in Saturday’s conference championship game. Despite returning only one offensive starter from last year’s team, and losing this year’s starting quarterback to a season-ending injury on Opening Day, the Midshipmen have been one of the most prolific offensive teams in the nation in 2016, ranking second in the NCAA in rushing (342.0 ypg), and 11th in scoring (41.7 ppg). Along the way, Navy has committed the fewest penalties (30) and has the second-fewest turnovers (9) of any team in the nation.
In addition to the major award-winners, The American also named its first, second and honorable mention all-conference teams. Oliver and Temple defensive end Haason Reddick were both unanimously selected to the first team in 2016, while Memphis kicker Jake Elliott becomes the first player in conference history to be named to the first team four times.
2016 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Quinton Flowers, QB, USF (Jr., Miami, Fla.)
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shaquem Griffin, LB, UCF (Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla.)
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tony Pollard, WR/KR, Memphis (Fr., Memphis, Tenn.)
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (Fr., Houston, Texas.)
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR
Ken Niumatalolo, Navy
| ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM |
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
| WR |
Zay Jones 2 |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
6-1 |
197 |
Austin, Texas/Stephen F. Austin |
| WR |
Courtland Sutton |
SMU |
So. |
6-4 |
215 |
Brenham, Texas/Brenham |
| WR |
Keevan Lucas 2 |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
5-10 |
195 |
Abilene, Texas/Abilene |
| OT |
Kofi Amichia |
USF |
Sr. |
6-4 |
297 |
Riverdale, Ga./McEachern |
| OT |
Dion Dawkins 2 |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-5 |
320 |
Rahway, N.J./Rahway |
| OG |
Adam West |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-3 |
297 |
Spring, Texas/Klein |
| OG |
Blake Belcher |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-5 |
304 |
Guthrie, Okla./Guthrie |
| C |
Chandler Miller |
Tulsa |
So. |
6-3 |
290 |
Bixby, Okla./Bixby |
| TE |
Daniel Montiel |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-3 |
240 |
Arlington, Texas/Arlington |
| QB |
Quinton Flowers |
USF |
Jr. |
6-0 |
210 |
Miami, Fla./Miami Jackson |
| RB |
Marlon Mack 1 1 |
USF |
Jr. |
6-0 |
195 |
Sarasota, Fla./Booker |
| RB |
James Flanders |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
5-10 |
203 |
Midwest City, Okla./Midwest City |
| DL |
Ed Oliver * |
Houston |
Fr. |
6-2 |
290 |
Houston, Texas/Westfield |
| DL |
Justin Lawler |
SMU |
Jr. |
6-4 |
262 |
Pottsboro, Texas/Pottsboro |
| DL |
Haason Reddick H * |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-1 |
230 |
Camden, N.J./Haddon Heights |
| DL |
Tanzel Smart 1 |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-1 |
304 |
Baton Rouge, La./Scotlandville Magnet |
| LB |
Shaquem Griffin |
UCF |
Jr. |
6-1 |
213 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Lakewood |
| LB |
Eric Wilson 2 |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-2 |
225 |
Redford, Mich./Northwestern |
| LB |
Steven Taylor 2 |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-1 |
225 |
Cedar Hill, Texas/Cedar Hill |
| LB |
Genard Avery |
Memphis |
So. |
6-2 |
230 |
Byhalia, Miss./Byhalia |
| LB |
Nico Marley H 1 |
Tulane |
Sr. |
5-10 |
208 |
Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay |
| CB |
Howard Wilson |
Houston |
So. |
6-1 |
185 |
DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto |
| CB |
Horace Richardson |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-0 |
201 |
Everman, Texas/Everman |
| S |
Obi Melifonwu |
UConn |
Sr. |
6-3 |
217 |
South Grafton, Mass./Grafton |
| S |
Darrion Millines |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-0 |
208 |
Boynton Beach, Fla./American Heritage |
| K |
Jake Elliott 1 1 1 |
Memphis |
Sr. |
5-10 |
165 |
Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township |
| P |
Spencer Smith 2 1 |
Memphis |
So. |
6-1 |
195 |
Newnan, Ga./East Coweta |
| RS |
Tony Pollard |
Memphis |
Fr |
5-11 |
200 |
Memphis, Tenn./Melrose |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| * unanimous selection |
| ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM |
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
| WR |
Noel Thomas |
UConn |
Sr. |
6-1 |
202 |
Norwalk, Conn./St. Luke’s School |
| WR |
Anthony Miller |
Memphis |
Jr. |
5-11 |
190 |
Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers |
| WR |
Rodney Adams H |
USF |
Sr. |
6-1 |
190 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Toledo |
| OT |
Blake Copeland |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-4 |
281 |
Muscle Shoals, Ala./Muscle Shoals |
| OT |
Evan Plagg |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-3 |
292 |
Guthrie, Okla./Guthrie |
| OG |
Dominique Threatt |
USF |
Sr. |
6-1 |
330 |
Atlanta, Ga./Tri-Cities |
| OG |
Tyler Bowling |
Tulsa |
So. |
6-6 |
325 |
Yukon, Okla./Yukon |
| C |
Maurice Morris |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-2 |
327 |
La Porte, Texas/La Porte |
| TE |
Mitchell Wilcox |
USF |
Fr. |
6-4 |
248 |
Tarpon Springs, Fla./Tarpon Springs |
| QB |
Greg Ward Jr. 2 |
Houston |
Sr. |
5-11 |
190 |
Tyler, Texas/John Tyler |
| RB |
Jahad Thomas 1 |
Temple |
Sr. |
5-10 |
180 |
Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth |
| RB |
D’Angelo Brewer |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
5-9 |
185 |
Tulsa, Okla./Central |
| DL |
Jamiyus Pittman |
UCF |
Jr. |
6-0 |
295 |
Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt County |
| DL |
Cortez Broughton |
Cincinnati |
So. |
6-2 |
297 |
Warner Robbins, Ga./Veterans |
| DL |
Deadrin Senat |
USF |
Jr. |
6-1 |
305 |
Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee |
| DL |
Praise Martin-Oguike2 |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-1 |
255 |
Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge |
| LB |
Tyus Bowser |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-3 |
240 |
Tyler, Texas/John Tyler |
| LB |
Micah Thomas |
Navy |
Jr. |
6-1 |
249 |
Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge |
| LB |
Auggie Sanchez 2 |
USF |
Jr. |
6-2 |
245 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast |
| LB |
Avery Williams |
Temple |
Sr. |
5-10 |
224 |
Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley |
| CB |
Shaquill Griffin |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-1 |
200 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Lakewood |
| CB |
Brandon Wilson |
Houston |
Sr. |
5-11 |
200 |
Shreveport, La./Calvary Academy |
| CB |
Deatrick Nichols 1 |
USF |
Jr. |
5-10 |
189 |
Miami, Fla./Miami Central |
| CB |
Parry Nickerson H |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-0 |
175 |
Algiers, La./West Jefferson |
| S |
Garrett Davis |
Houston |
So. |
6-1 |
200 |
Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak |
| S |
Sean Chandler 2 |
Temple |
Jr. |
6-0 |
190 |
Camden, N.J./Camden |
| K |
Aaron Boumerhi |
Temple |
Fr. |
6-0 |
195 |
Phillipsburg, Pa./Phillipsburg-Osceola |
| P |
Worth Gregory |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
6-3 |
210 |
Fort Mill, S.C./Alabama |
| RS |
D’Ernest Johnson |
USF |
Jr. |
5-10 |
208 |
Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee |
| ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION |
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
| WR |
Linell Bonner |
Houston |
Jr. |
6-0 |
202 |
Houston, Texas/Dekaney |
| OG |
Evan Martin |
Navy |
Jr. |
6-3 |
294 |
Lee’s Summit, Mo./Lee’s Summit West |
| TE |
Colin Thompson |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-4 |
255 |
Doylestown, Pa./Florida |
| LB |
Stephaun Marshall |
Temple |
Sr. |
5-11 |
206 |
Montclair, N.J./Montclair |
| S |
Drico Johnson |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-1 |
215 |
Orlando, Fla./Agape Christian |
| S |
Alohi Gilman |
Navy |
Fr. |
6-0 |
200 |
Laie, Hawaii/Kahuku |
| RS |
Dishan Romine |
Navy |
Sr. |
5-11 |
178 |
Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual |
1 2 H indicates previous selections to first team, second team, or honorable mention
American Athletic Conference Offensive Players of the Year
2013 Blake Bortles, QB, UCF
2014 Shane Carden, QB, East Carolina
2015 Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy
2016 Quinton Flowers, QB, USF
American Athletic Conference Defensive Players of the Year
2013 Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville
2014 Jacoby Glenn, CB, UCF
Tank Jakes, LB, Memphis
2015 Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
2016 Shaquem Griffin, LB, UCF
American Athletic Conference Special Teams Players of the Year
2013 Demarcus Ayers, WR/KR, Houston
Tom Hornsey, P, Memphis
2014 Jake Elliott, K, Memphis
2015 Jake Elliott, K, Memphis
2016 Tony Pollard, WR/RS, Memphis
American Athletic Conference Rookies of the Year
2013 John O’Korn, QB, Houston
2014 Marlon Mack, RB, USF
2015 Tre’Quan Smith, WR, UCF
2016 Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
American Athletic Conference Coaches of the Year
2013 George O’Leary, UCF
2014 Justin Fuente, Memphis
2015 Tom Herman, Houston
Ken Niumatalolo, Navy
2016 Ken Niumatalolo, Navy