PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the lineup of 39 student-athletes who will be on-hand in Newport, Rhode Island, next week for the conference’s annual Summer Kickoff and Media Days.
The 39 student-athletes will join The American’s 12 head coaches at Gurney’s Newport Resort and Marina July 17-18 for the first formal event of the 2017 football season. Legendary sports announcer Verne Lundquist will serve as the host of the event.
The American, which is the only FBS conference that returns its offensive and defensive players of the year from 2016, will have both of those players in attendance next week as USF quarterback Quinton Flowers and UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin are scheduled to head to Newport.
The American’s contingent includes 11 players who were named to the 2016 all-conference team, including five returning first-team selections. Three players who have been named to the 2017 Maxwell Award preseason watch list will be in attendance (Flowers, Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson and Tulsa running back D’Angelo Brewer) as will two players named to the Bednarik Award watch list (Griffin and SMU defensive end Justin Lawler).
Live coverage of The American’s Summer Kickoff and Media Days will begin Monday, July 17, at 7 p.m. ET, as the American Digital Network originates from the event’s signature New England-style clambake. Hali Oughton will be joined by Andy Katz for red carpet-style coverage and interviews of arriving guests.
Coverage continues Tuesday, July 18, at 8:30 a.m. ET, on the American Digital Network with the announcement of the conference’s preseason media poll. Verne Lundquist will introduce commissioner Mike Aresco at 9 a.m. and will moderate a pair of roundtable discussions - a session with the East Division coaches at 9:45 a.m., and a segment with the West Division coaches at 11 a.m. Hali Oughton and Andy Gresh will anchor the Tuesday coverage.
A two-hour recap of the Summer Kickoff will be on ESPN3 Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET. Mike Couzens and Matt Chatham will anchor ESPN’s coverage. SiriusXM College Sports Nation (channel 84) will originate live from Newport Tuesday, beginning at 1 p.m.
ATTENDEES’ LINEUP
subject to change
UCF
Head Coach Scott Frost
Jordan Akins TE
Aaron Evans OL
Shaquem Griffin LB
Jamiyus Pittman NG
Cincinnati
Head Coach Luke Fickell
Mike Boone RB
Korey Cunningham OL
Jaylyin Minor LB
UConn
Head Coach Randy Edsall
Luke Carrezola DE
Junior Joseph LB
Tommy Myers TE
East Carolina
Head Coach Scottie Montgomery
Jimmy Williams WR
Jordan Williams LB
Houston
Head Coach Major Applewhite
Steven Dunbar WR
Matthew Adams LB
Memphis
Head Coach Mike Norvell
Genard Avery LB
Riley Ferguson QB
Anthony Miller WR
Jonathan Cook DB
Navy
Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo
Darryl Bonner RB
D.J. Palmore LB
USF
Head Coach Charlie Strong
Quinton Flowers QB
Auggie Sanchez LB
SMU
Head Coach Chad Morris
Evan Brown C
Justin Lawler DE
Courtland Sutton WR
Braeden West RB
Jordan Wyatt CB
Temple
Head Coach Geoff Collins
Sharif Finch DE
Leon Johnson OL
Keith Kirkwood WR
Nick Sharga FB
Tulane
Head Coach Willie Fritz
Ade Aruna DE
Sherman Badie RB
Dontrell Hilliard RB
Parry Nickerson CB
Tulsa
Head Coach Philip Montgomery
D’Angelo Brewer RB
Jesse Brubaker DE
Evan Plagg OT
Kerwin Thomas CB