PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  A star-studded group of student-athletes and head coaches will be on hand for the American Athletic Conference Summer Kickoff and Media Days July 23-24 in Newport, Rhode Island.
 
This year’s attending players include Houston’s Ed Oliver, the 2017 Outland Trophy winner who was tabbed last month as the top player in college football for 2018 by Sports Illustrated; UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton, who finished eighth in the 2017 Heisman Trophy voting; and Memphis All-America return specialist Tony Pollard.
 
Oliver, Milton and Pollard are among the 43 student-athletes who will join The American’s 12 head coaches at Gurney’s Newport Resort and Marina for the first formal event of the 2018 football season. ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi will serve as the host of the event.
 
The American is the only FBS conference that returns its offensive (Milton), defensive (Oliver) and special teams (Pollard) players of the year from 2017.
 
Live coverage of The American’s Summer Kickoff and Media Days will begin Monday, July 23, 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 coverage of one of the most highly anticipated events on the college football calendar and the announcement of The American’s Fifth Anniversary Team.
 
Coverage continues Tuesday, July 24 on the American Digital Network with the announcement of the conference’s preseason media poll. Commissioner Mike Aresco will give his annual remarks at 9 a.m., while Negandhi will moderate a series of roundtable discussions with The American’s head coaches through the morning. Hali Oughton and Andy Gresh will anchor the Tuesday coverage.
 
ESPN3 will have interviews with Commissioner Aresco and the league’s head coaches Monday afternoon. Matt Schick and Matt Chatham will anchor ESPN’s coverage. SiriusXM’s ESPNU Radio (channel 84) will originate live from Newport during the event as well.
 
 ATTENDEES LINEUP
subject to change
 
UCF                             
Head Coach Josh Heupel       
Titus Davis                  LB
Pat Jasinski                LB
Wyatt Miller                OL
McKenzie Milton        QB
                                   
Cincinnati                  
Head Coach Luke Fickell
Cortez Broughton       DT
Garrett Campbell        OL
Marquise Copeland    DT
                                   
UConn                        
Head Coach Randy Edsall
Matt Peart                  OL
Marshe Terry              LB
Donovan Williams       WR
                                   
ECU                             
Head Coach Scottie Montgomery
Bruce Bivens              LB
Trevon Brown             WR
Garrett McGhin          OT
Alex Turner                 DT
                                   
Houston                     
Head Coach Major Applewhite
Garrett Davis              S
D’Eriq King                  QB
Ed Oliver                      DT
                                   
Memphis                   
Head Coach Mike Norvell
Curtis Akins                LB
Emmanuel Cooper      DL
Drew Kyser                 OL
Tony Pollard                RB       

Navy                           
Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo
Anthony Gargiulo        FB
Sean Williams             S
                                   
USF                             
Head Coach Charlie Strong
Ronnie Hoggins           CB
Kirk Livingstone         DE
Eric Mayes                  OL
Tyre McCants             WR
                                   
SMU                           
Head Coach Sonny Dykes
Ben Hicks                    QB
Xavier Jones               RB
Jordan Wyatt              CB
                                   
Temple                       
Head Coach Geoff Collins
Ryquell Armstead       RB
Michael Dogbe            DT
Frank Nutile                QB
Delvon Randall            S
                                   
Tulane                        
Head Coach Willie Fritz
Jonathan Banks          QB
Terren Encalade         WR
John Leglue                 OT
Donnie Lewis Jr.          CB
Roderic Teamer Jr.     S
                                   
Tulsa                          
Head Coach Philip Montgomery
Trevis Gipson              DE
Justin Hobbs               WR
McKinley Whitfield     S
Willie Wright               OT