UCF’s Milton Named Offensive Player of the Year;
Houston’s Oliver is Defensive Player of the Year;
Memphis’ Pollard Repeats as Special Teams Player of the Year;
Memphis’ Carter Named Rookie of the Year;
UCF’s Frost is Unanimous Coach of the Year;
Cincinnati Wins Team Academic Excellence Award
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton, who led the Knights to a perfect regular season, has been chosen as the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year while Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who is a finalist for two major national honors, was named The American’s Defensive Player of the Year by the league’s 12 head coaches.
Memphis running back Tony Pollard was a repeat choice as The American’s Special Teams Player of the Year, while Tigers cornerback TJ Carter was chosen as Rookie of the Year.
UCF head coach Scott Frost, who has the Knights ranked No. 11 in the Amway Coaches’ Poll in his second year in Orlando, was the unanimous choice by his colleagues as The American’s Coach of the Year.
Cincinnati was the winner of The American’s Team Academic Excellence Award as the team with the highest cumulative grade-point average.
Milton enjoyed a breakout year as a sophomore on his way to Offensive Player of the Year honors. He enters Saturday’s American Athletic Conference Championship against Memphis ranked second nationally in pass efficiency rating (182.9), trailing only Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma. Milton has thrown for 3,301 yards and 30 touchdowns against six interceptions and has added 429 rushing yards and six TDs on the ground. He is eighth nationally in yards per completion (14.94), 10th in passing yards (300.1 ypg) and seventh in total offense (339.1) as the engineer of a UCF offense that leads the nation in scoring (48.3 ppg). He is the second UCF player to be named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, joining Blake Bortles, who won the inaugural award in 2013.
Oliver entered the 2017 season as an Associated Press Preseason All-America selection and further established himself as arguably the nation’s top defensive player as a sophomore. Oliver plays the nose tackle position in the Cougars’ three-man front and has registered 69 tackles in 11 games, despite missing significant portions of two games due to injury. Oliver has 5.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, three pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries. Oliver is one of three finalists for both the Nagurski Trophy, as the nation’s top defensive player, and the Outland Trophy, as the nation’s top interior lineman. He is the first player from Houston to win The American’s Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Pollard was chosen as Special Teams Player of the Year for the second straight season as he managed to improve on his already-impressive numbers as a return specialist. Pollard leads the nation in kickoff return average at 44.2 yards - a mark that would shatter the NCAA’s single-season record if it holds. He also leads the nation with four touchdowns on kickoff returns and has six TDs on kickoffs in his first two seasons. Pollard continues Memphis’ remarkable hold on The American’s Special Teams Player of the Year award; a Memphis player has won the award in five straight seasons (punter Tom Hornsey won in 2013, kicker Jake Elliott won in 2014 and 2015).
Carter is the first Memphis player to be named as The American’s Rookie of the Year. He has started all 11 games as a true freshman and has a team-high four interceptions with two fumble recoveries to account for six takeaways in 2017. He was chosen as the Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 21 following a 14-tackle performance against Houston in which he forced two turnovers in the final minutes to seal the Tigers’ win.
Frost was the clear choice as The American’s Coach of the Year award after he led the Knights to an 11-0 overall record and an 8-0 mark in conference play, capped by the East Division title. Frost, whose roster includes more than 50 players from the Knights’ winless team of 2015, brought UCF to a 6-7 record in his first year before turning in this year’s perfect regular season. Frost’s 2017 team became first American Athletic Conference squad to go unbeaten in the regular season and the second to finish unbeaten in conference play, joining UCF’s 2013 team. He joins former UCF coach George O’Leary as the Knights’ American Coach of the Year winners.
Cincinnati was named the winner of the Team Academic Excellence Award for the third consecutive season. That honor goes to the conference team with the highest cumulative GPA of all student-athletes on the roster at the beginning of the academic year.
In addition to the major award-winners, The American also named its first, second and honorable mention all-conference teams. UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin was a unanimous selection of the coaches to the first team, becoming the seventh American Athletic Conference player in league history to appear on every eligible first-team ballot. Griffin joins Oliver, Pollard, SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton, SMU defensive end Justin Lawler and Memphis linebacker Genard Avery as repeat selections to the first team.
UCF set two league records with 16 selections to the all-conference teams, and nine players named to the first team.
2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
McKenzie Milton, QB, UCF (So., Kapolei, Hawaii)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (So., Houston, Texas)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tony Pollard, WR/KR, Memphis (So., Memphis, Tenn.)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
T.J. Carter, CB, Memphis (Fr., Nashville, Tenn.)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Scott Frost, UCF *
TEAM ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
Cincinnati
| ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM |
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
| WR |
Anthony Miller 2 |
Memphis |
Sr. |
5-11 |
190 |
Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers |
| WR |
Trey Quinn |
SMU |
Jr. |
6-0 |
202 |
Lake Charles, La./LSU |
| WR |
Courtland Sutton 1 |
SMU |
Jr. |
6-4 |
215 |
Brenham, Texas/Brenham |
| OT |
Aaron Evans |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-6 |
325 |
Seffner, Fla./Armwood |
| OT |
Trevon Tate |
Memphis |
Jr. |
6-4 |
290 |
Houston, Texas/North Shore |
| OG |
Gabe Kuhn |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-4 |
295 |
Wildwood, Mo./Lyafayette |
| OG |
Jeremi Hall |
USF |
Sr. |
6-5 |
332 |
Atlanta, Ga./Tri-Cities |
| C |
Jordan Johnson |
UCF |
So. |
6-2 |
320 |
Jacksonville, Fla./Ed White |
| TE |
Jordan Akins |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-4 |
262 |
Atlanta, Ga./Union Grove |
| QB |
McKenzie Milton |
UCF |
So. |
5-11 |
185 |
Kapolei, Hawaii/Milliani |
| QB |
Riley Ferguson |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-4 |
210 |
Matthews, N.C./Coffeyville CC |
| RB |
Adrian Killins Jr. |
UCF |
So. |
5-8 |
158 |
Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland |
| RB |
D'Angelo Brewer 2 |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
5-9 |
190 |
Tulsa, Okla./Central |
| DL |
Jamiyus Pittman 2 |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-1 |
319 |
Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt County |
| DL |
Ed Oliver 1 |
Houston |
So. |
6-2 |
290 |
Houston, Texas/Westfield |
| DL |
Deadrin Senat 2 |
USF |
Sr. |
6-1 |
305 |
Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee |
| DL |
Justin Lawler 1 |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-4 |
265 |
Pottsboro, Texas/Pottsboro |
| LB |
Shaquem Griffin * 1 |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-2 |
229 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Lakewood |
| LB |
D'Juan Hines |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-1 |
230 |
Spring, Texas/Dekaney |
| LB |
Genard Avery 1 |
Memphis |
Jr. |
6-2 |
230 |
Byhalia, Miss./Byhalia |
| LB |
Auggie Sanchez 2 2 |
USF |
Sr. |
6-2 |
245 |
St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast |
| CB |
Mike Hughes |
UCF |
Jr. |
5-11 |
191 |
New Bern, N.C./Garden City CC |
| CB |
Parry Nickerson H 2 |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-0 |
180 |
Algiers, La./West Jefferson |
| S |
Kyle Gibson |
UCF |
Jr. |
5-11 |
182 |
Tampa, Fla./Armwood |
| S |
Delvon Randall |
Temple |
Jr. |
6-1 |
210 |
Pittsburgh, Pa./Gateway |
| K |
Emilio Nadelman |
USF |
Sr. |
5-6 |
173 |
Miami, Fla./Central |
| P |
James Smith |
Cincinnati |
Fr. |
6-5 |
220 |
Wangaratta, Australia/Galen College |
| RS |
Tony Pollard 1 |
Memphis |
So. |
5-11 |
200 |
Memphis, Tenn./Melrose |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| * unanimous selection |
| ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM |
|
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
|
| WR |
Tre'Quan Smith |
UCF |
Jr. |
6-1 |
210 |
Delray Beach, Fla./Village Academy |
|
| WR |
Trevon Brown |
ECU |
Jr. |
6-2 |
211 |
Wilmington, N.C./New Hanover |
|
| WR |
Justin Hobbs |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-4 |
218 |
Overland Park, Kan./Shawnee Mission West |
|
| OT |
Korey Cunningham |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-6 |
305 |
Montevallo, Ala./Montevallo |
|
| OT |
Wyatt Miller |
UCF |
Jr. |
6-4 |
306 |
Douglas, Ga./Coffee |
|
| OT |
Marcus Norman |
USF |
So. |
6-6 |
305 |
Sebastian, Fla./Sebastian River |
|
| OG |
Brian Carter |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-1 |
300 |
Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg |
|
| OG |
Tyler Bowling 2 |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-6 |
325 |
Yukon, Okla./Yukon |
|
| C |
Chandler Miller 1 |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-3 |
293 |
Bixby, Okla./Bixby |
|
| TE |
Joey Magnifico |
Memphis |
So. |
6-4 |
235 |
Cordova, Tenn./St. Benedict |
|
| QB |
Quinton Flowers 1 |
USF |
Sr. |
6-0 |
210 |
Miami, Fla./Miami Jackson |
|
| RB |
Dontrell Hilliard |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-0 |
205 |
Baton Rouge, La./Scotlandville Magnet |
|
| RB |
Darrell Henderson |
Memphis |
So. |
5-9 |
200 |
Batesville, Miss./South Panola |
|
| DL |
Trysten Hill |
UCF |
So. |
6-2 |
330 |
Lee, Fla./Suwannee |
|
| DL |
Bruce Hector |
USF |
Sr. |
6-2 |
296 |
Tampa, Fla./Robinson |
|
| DL |
Sharif Finch |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-5 |
250 |
Henrico, Va./Henrico |
|
| DL |
Jacob Martin |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-2 |
250 |
Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail |
|
| DL |
Jeremy Smith |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-5 |
265 |
Tulsa, Okla./Berryhill |
|
| LB |
Chequan Burkett |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-2 |
230 |
Montgomery, Ala./Carver |
|
| LB |
Jaylyin Minor |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-1 |
233 |
Navasota, Texas/Navasota |
|
| LB |
D.J. Palmore |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-3 |
236 |
Bartlett, Tenn./Christian Brothers |
|
| LB |
Rae Juan Marbley |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-0 |
245 |
Destrehan, La./Destrehan |
|
| CB |
T.J. Carter |
Memphis |
Fr. |
5-11 |
180 |
Nashville, Tenn./Stratford |
|
| CB |
Deatrick Nichols 1 2 |
USF |
Sr. |
5-10 |
189 |
Miami, Fla./Miami Central |
|
| S |
Khalil Williams |
Houston |
Sr. |
5-11 |
210 |
Missouri City, Texas/Hightower |
|
| S |
Devin Abraham |
USF |
Sr. |
5-9 |
185 |
Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake |
|
| K |
Matthew Wright |
UCF |
Jr. |
6-0 |
179 |
Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg |
|
| P |
Mac Loudermilk |
UCF |
Jr. |
6-1 |
234 |
Valdosta, Ga./Valdosta |
|
| RS |
Mike Hughes |
UCF |
Jr. |
5-11 |
191 |
New Bern, N.C./Garden City CC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION |
|
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown/Last School |
|
| DL |
Marquise Copeland |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
6-3 |
290 |
Cleveland, Ohio/Bedford |
|
| LB |
Junior Joseph H |
UConn |
Sr. |
6-1 |
232 |
Sinking Springs, Pa./Wilson Westlawn |
|
| DL |
Kiante Anderson |
ECU |
Sr. |
6-4 |
243 |
Greenville, N.C./St. Augustine's |
|
| WR |
Davon Grayson |
ECU |
Gr. |
6-2 |
187 |
Suffolk, Va./Kings fork |
|
| WR |
Steven Dunbar |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-3 |
202 |
Metarie, La./Rummel |
|
| S |
Terrell Williams |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-4 |
212 |
Lawton, Okla./Northeastern Okla. A&M |
|
| LB |
Micah Thomas 2 |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-1 |
241 |
Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge |
|
| S |
Sean Williams |
Navy |
Jr. |
6-1 |
190 |
Memphis, Tenn./Cordova |
|
| C |
Cameron Ruff |
USF |
Sr. |
6-3 |
320 |
Tampa, Fla./Jesuit |
|
| C |
Evan Brown |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-3 |
307 |
Southlake, Texas/Carroll |
|
| CB |
Jordan Wyatt |
SMU |
Jr. |
6-0 |
195 |
Wylie, Texas/East |
|
| S |
Sean Chandler 2 2 |
Temple |
Sr. |
6-0 |
195 |
Camden, N.J./Camden |
|
| CB |
Donnie Lewis Jr. |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-1 |
190 |
Baton Rouge, La./Central |
|
| OT |
Evan Plagg 2 |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-3 |
295 |
Guthrie, Okla./Guthrie |
|
| S |
McKinley Whitfield |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-3 |
216 |
Sprio, Okla./Spiro |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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 |
| 2017 |
McKenzie Milton, QB, UCF |
|
|
| 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 |
| 2017 |
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston |
|
|
| 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 |
| 2017 |
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 |
| 2017 |
T.J. Carter, CB, Memphis |
|
|
| 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 |
| 2017 |
Scott Frost, UCF |
|
|
| American Athletic Conference Team Academic Excellence Award |
| 2013 |
UCF |
| 2014 |
UCF |
| 2015 |
Cincinnati |
| 2016 |
Cincinnati |
| 2017 |
Cincinnati |