American Conference/ Ben Solomon

Football

Cast Your Vote For The American's Fifth Anniversary Football Team

As the American Athletic Conference celebrates its fifth anniversary, the conference welcomes all fans to cast their votes for the league's Fifth Anniversary Football Team. The American will name its Fifth Anniversary Team July 24 at the conference's annual Summer Kickoff and Media Days in Newport, Rhode Island.

The fan balloting will be one of three components that will determine the team, along with votes from the 12 football-playing schools and the local and national media that covers The American.

Nominees that appear on the ballot are those who were chosen as all-conference first team selections at least once, or in some instances, were multiple-time second-team selections. Fans may also write in their votes at each position if a player does not appear on the ballot.

Fans may cast their votes below, or may use this link if the ballot does not render in your browser.  


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Fifth Anniversary Football Team Nominees

Quarterbacks (choose 2)
Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

Led Cardinals to 12-1 season in 2013; plays for New York Jets
 
Blake Bortles, UCF
2013 Offensive Player of the Year; led Knights to conference title and Fiesta Bowl; plays for Jacksonville Jaguars
 
Shane Carden, ECU
2014 Offensive Player of the Year; holds American single-season passing record
 
Quinton Flowers, USF
2016 Offensive Player of the Year; two-time all-conference pick; American career record-holder in total offense; plays for Cincinnati Bengals
 
Paxton Lynch, Memphis
Two-time all-conference selection; plays for Denver Broncos
 
McKenzie Milton, UCF
2017 Offensive Player of the Year; led 13-0 Knights to Peach Bowl title and No. 6 final ranking
 
Keenan Reynolds, Navy
2015 Offensive Player of the Year; fifth in Heisman Trophy voting; NCAA career record for touchdowns
 
Greg Ward Jr., Houston
Two-time all-conference selection; led Cougars to 12-1 season and Peach Bowl title in 2015; plays for Philadelphia Eagles
 
 

Running Backs (choose 3)
D’Angelo Brewer, Tulsa

Two-time all-conference selection; holds American career rushing record (3,917 yards)
 
James Flanders, Tulsa
First team all-conference selection in 2016; set American’s single-season rushing record (1,629 yards)
 
Paul James, Rutgers
First-team all-conference selection in 2015; averaged 97.9 yards per game in injury-shortened season
 
Storm Johnson, UCF
Led The American with 1,139 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in 2013; unanimous first team all-conference
 
Adrian Killins Jr., UCF
First team all-conference in 2017; averaged 6.5 yards per carry and had 10 rushing touchdowns in a 13-0 season
 
Marlon Mack, USF
Three-time first team all-conference selection; 2014 Rookie of the Year; 3,609 career yards; plays for Indianapolis Colts
 
William Stanback, UCF
Unanimous first team all-conference pick in 2014; two-time all-conference selection
 
Jahad Thomas, Temple
Two-time all-conference selection; first team pick in 2015
 

 
Wide Receivers (choose 3)
Demarcus Ayers, Houston

Two-time first-team all-conference selection (once at WR, once as RS); 2013 Special Teams Player of the Year; plays for Chicago Bears
 
Keyarris Garrett, Tulsa
First team all-conference in 2015; led league with eight TD catches and 122.2 yards per game
 
Deontay Greenberry, Houston
First-team all-conference in 2013; led league in receiving yards (1,202)
 
Justin Hardy, ECU
First-team all-conference in 2014; set NCAA career receptions record; Burlsworth Trophy winner; plays for Atlanta Falcons
 
Zay Jones, ECU
Two-time all-conference pick; 2016 Biletnikoff Award finalist; set conference and NCAA single-season and career receptions records; Academic All-America
 
Keevan Lucas, Tulsa
Two-time all-conference pick; led conference with 11 TD catches in 2016; 31 career TD catches ranks second in conference history
 
Anthony Miller, Memphis
Two-time all-conference selection; 2017 Consensus All-America; conference-records of 18 TDs in 2017 and 37 in career; plays for Chicago Bears
 
DeVante Parker, Louisville
First-team all-conference in 2013; led conference with 12 TD catches; plays for Miami Dolphins
 
Breshad Perriman, UCF
First-team all-conference in 2014; plays for Baltimore Ravens
 
Trey Quinn, SMU
First-team all-conference in 2017; led NCAA in receptions; plays for Washington Redskins
 
Courtland Sutton, SMU
Two-time first-team all-conference pick; 31 career touchdown receptions ranks second in conference history; plays for Denver Broncos
 

Tight Ends (choose 2)
Jordan Akins, UCF

All-conference first team in 2017; plays for Houston Texans
 
Blake Annen, Cincinnati
First team all-conference in 2013
 
Alan Cross, Memphis
First team all-conference in 2014; plays for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 
Tyler Kroft, Rutgers
First team all-conference in 2013; plays for Cincinnati Bengals
 
Daniel Montiel, Memphis
All-conference first team in 2016
 
Bryce Williams, ECU
Two-time all-conference selection; second on team with 58 catches in 2015; plays for Arizona Cardinals
 

Offensive Tackles (choose 3)
Kofi Amichia, USF

First team all-conference in 2016; plays for Green Bay Packers
 
Jamon Brown, Louisville
First team all-conference in 2013; plays for Los Angeles Rams
 
Al Bond, Memphis
First team all-conference in 2014
 
Dion Dawkins, Temple
Two-time all-conference selection; made 41 career starts; plays for Buffalo Bills
 
Parker Ehinger, Cincinnati
First-team all-conference at both guard (2014) and tackle (2015); plays for Kansas City Chiefs
 
Aaron Evans, UCF
First team all-conference in 2017; plays for Philadelphia Eagles
 
Taylor Fallin, Memphis
All-conference first team in 2017
 
Eric Lefeld, Cincinnati
Unanimous first-team all-conference selection in 2013
 
Trevon Tate, Memphis
First team all-conference in 2017


Offensive Guards (choose 3)
Blake Belcher, Tulsa

First team all-conference in 2016
 
E.K. Binns, Navy
First team all-conference in 2015; Academic All-America selection
 
Jeremi Hall, USF
First team all-conference in 2017; made 25 consecutive starts in final two seasons
 
Rowdy Harper, Houston
First team all-conference in 2014; made 25 starts in two years in The American and 52 career starts
 
Gabe Kuhn, Memphis
First team all-conference in 2017; made 51 career starts
 
Eric Lofton, Temple
First team all-conference in 2015
 
Jordan McCray, UCF
First team all-conference in 2013
 
Justin McCray, UCF
First team all-conference in 2013; plays for Green Bay Packers
 
Adam West, Navy
First team all-conference in 2016
 

Centers (choose 2)
Kyle Friend, Temple

First team all-conference in 2015; made 41 career starts; plays for Carolina Panthers
 
Taylor Hudson, ECU
First team all-conference in 2014
 
Jordan Johnson, UCF
First team all-conference in 2017; started 25 of 26 games entering junior year in 2018
 
Chandler Miller, Tulsa
Two-time all-conference selection; started all 38 games entering senior year in 2018
 
Jake Smith, Louisville
First team all-conference in 2013
 

 
Defensive Linemen (choose 5)
Will Anthony, Navy

First team all-conference in 2015
 
Terrell Hartsfield, Cincinnati
First team all-conference in 2014
 
Martin Ifedi, Memphis
Two-time first-team all-conference pick
 
Matt Ioannidis, Temple
Two-time all-conference selection; plays for Washington Redskins
 
Justin Lawler, SMU
Two-time first-team all-conference pick; plays for Los Angeles Rams
 
Aaron Lynch, USF
First team all-conference in 2013; plays for Chicago Bears
 
Joey Mbu, Houston
First team all-conference in 2014; plays for Green Bay Packers
 
Ed Oliver, Houston
Consensus All-America and American Defensive Player of the Year in 2017; two-time first team all-conference
 
Jamiyus Pittman, UCF
Two-time all-conference; plays for Miami Dolphins
 
Haason Reddick, Temple
Unanimous all-conference first team in 2016; first-round draft pick of Arizona Cardinals
 
Deadrin Senat, USF
Two-time all-conference selection; plays for Atlanta Falcons
 
Tanzel Smart, Tulane
Two-time all-conference first team pick; plays for Los Angeles Rams
 
Marcus Smith, Louisville
2013 American Defensive Player of the Year; plays for Seattle Seahawks
 
Nate D. Smith, Temple
First team all-conference in 2015
 
Jordan Stepp, Cincinnati
First team all-conference in 2014
 
Terry Williams, ECU
First team all-conference in 2014


Linebackers (choose 5)
Genard Avery, Memphis

Two-time first team all-conference pick; league-leading 22.0 tackles for loss in 2017; plays for Cleveland Browns
 
Zeek Bigger, ECU
Two-time all-conference pick ;conference-leading 140 tackles in 2014
 
Shaquem Griffin, UCF
2016 American Defensive Player of the Year; 2017 All-America selection; two-time first-team all-conference pick (unanimous in 2017); 2018 Peach Bowl defensive MVP; plays for Seattle Seahawks
 
D’Juan Hines, Houston
First-team all-conference in 2017
 
Tank Jakes, Memphis
2014 American Defensive Player of the Year and first team all-conference
 
Jeff Luc, Cincinnati
All-conference first team in 2014
 
Nico Marley, Tulane
Two-time first-team all-conference pick
 
Tyler Matakevich, Temple
Three-time first-team all-conference pick; 2015 American Defensive Player of the Year, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy winner and NCAA consensus All-America; three 100-tackle seasons (four overall); plays for Pittsburgh Steelers
 
Terrance Plummer, UCF
Two-time first-team all-conference pick
 
Elandon Roberts, Houston
First-team all-conference in 2015; conference-record 143 tackles in 2015; plays for New England Patriots
 
Auggie Sanchez, USF
Three-time all-conference selection
 
Yawin Smallwood, UConn
All-conference first team in 2013
 
Steven Taylor, Houston
Two-time all-conference selection; conference-leading 10.0 sacks in 2015; conference records of 25.5 sacks and 50.0 career tackles for loss
 
Eric Wilson, Cincinnati
Two-time all-conference selection; led American with 129 tackles in 2016; plays for Minnesota Vikings


Cornerbacks (choose 3)
Charles Gaines, Louisville

First team all-conference in 2013
 
Jacoby Glenn, UCF
2014 American Defensive Player of the Year; two-time first-team all-conference selection; led conference with seven interceptions in 2014; plays for Kansas City Chiefs
 
Mike Hughes, UCF
First team all-conference in 2017; scored four non-offensive touchdowns in 2017; first-round draft pick of Minnesota Vikings
 
Bobby McCain, Memphis
First team all-conference in 2014; led conference with six interceptions in 2013; plays for Miami Dolphins
 
Deatrick Nichols, USF
Three-time all-conference selection; first-team all-conference in 2015; led American with 1.25 passes defended per game in 2017
 
Parry Nickerson, Tulane
Two-time all-conference selection; conference-record 16 career interceptions; plays for New York Jets
 
Horace Richardson, SMU
First team all-conference in 2016; led conference with six interceptions in 2016
 
Jamar Summers, UConn
First team all-conference in 2015; conference-record eight interceptions in 2015
 
Howard Wilson, Houston
First team all-conference in 2016
 
 

Safeties (choose 3)
Sean Chandler, Temple

Two-time all-conference selection (at CB in 2015 and at S in 2016)
 
Clayton Geathers, UCF
Two-time all-conference selection, including first-team pick in 2014; plays for Indianapolis Colts
 
Kyle Gibson, UCF
First team all-conference in 2017
 
Adrian McDonald, Houston
Two-time all-conference selection, including first-team honors in 2014
 
Obi Melifonwu, UConn
First team all-conference in 2016; second in The American with 9.8 tackles per game in 2016; plays for Oakland Raiders
 
Darrion Millines, SMU
First team all-conference in 2016; second in The American with five interceptions in 2016
 
Calvin Pryor, Louisville
First team all-conference in 2013
 
Delvon Randall, Temple
First team all-conference in 2017
 
Hakeem Smith, Louisville
First team all-conference in 2013
 
Trevon Stewart, Houston
Two-time all-conference selection, including first-team honors in 2015
 
Alex Wells, Temple
First team all-conference in 2015
 

 
Kickers (choose 1)
Jake Elliott, Memphis

2014 and 2015 American Special Teams Player of the Year; 2015 All-America; four-time first-team all-conference; holds conference’s career scoring record; plays for Philadelphia Eagles
 
Emilio Nadelman, USF
First team all-conference selection in 2017
 
 
Punters (choose 1)
Mattias Ciabatti, USF

Two-time all-conference selection, including first-team honors in 2014; led conference in punting in 2014
 
Tom Hornsey, Memphis
2013 Ray Guy Award winner, Consensus All-America and American Special Teams Player of the Year
 
James Smith, Cincinnati
First team all-conference in 2017
 
Spencer Smith, Memphis
Three-time all-conference selection, including first-team honors in 2015 and 2016; led conference in punting in 2015 and 2016
 

Return Specialists (choose 1)
Ralph David Abernathy IV, Cincinnati

First team all-conference in 2013
 
Demarcus Ayers, Houston
2013 American Special Teams Player of the Year and first team all-conference; plays for Chicago Bears
 
Tony Pollard, Memphis
2017 All-America; 2016 and 2017 American Special Teams Player of the Year; led nation with four kickoff return touchdowns in 2017 and 40.0 yards per return
 
Deion Sanders Jr., SMU
First team all-conference in 2014