IRVING, Texas -- Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder and Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins, who will be on opposing sides Saturday in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game, have been chosen as The American’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, by the league’s 11 head coaches.
SMU kicker Chris Naggar was named The American’s Special Teams Player of the Year. A pair of freshman running backs – East Carolina’s Rahjai Harris and SMU’s Ulysses Bentley IV – were chosen as the conference’s Rookies of the Year. Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell was tabbed by his counterparts as The American’s Coach of the Year.
Ridder, who is a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award as the nation’s most outstanding player, has been instrumental in Cincinnati’s 8-0 record. He has passed for 1,821 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 526 yards and 11 TDs, engineering an offense that averages 40.9 points and 473.1 yards per game. He has accounted for 21 touchdowns in the Bearcats’ last five games, throwing 10 touchdown passes and rushing for 11 scores. Ridder, who was The American Rookie of the Year in 2018, is the first Cincinnati player to be chosen as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Collins was unanimously chosen as The American Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to earn unanimous player-of-the-year honors. A finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player and for the Butkus Award as the top linebacker, Collins has registered 51 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and four interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns. Two of Collins’ four interceptions clinched wins for Tulsa, including a highlight-reel 96-yard pick six against Tulane in an overtime victory. He is the first player from Tulsa to be named as the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Naggar is a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and is the first SMU player to be selected as The American’s Special Teams Player of the Year. Naggar leads the conference in scoring in 2020, averaging 9.4 points per game, and has made a league-leading 17 field goals in 21 attempts. He hit game-winning field goals in back-to-back weeks for the Mustangs in victories against Memphis and Tulane to help SMU to a 5-0 start.
Harris and Bentley were named The American’s Rookies of the Year after they made immediate impacts on their respective teams’ backfields. Harris rushed for 624 yards and four touchdowns in eight games, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and ranking third in The American in rushing as a true freshman (78.0 ypg). Bentley, a redshirt freshman, led The American with 913 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games and topped the conference with 91.3 yards per game. Both players were chosen to The American’s all-conference first team.
Fickell was named as The American Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons. Fickell takes his 8-0 Cincinnati squad into Saturday’s American Athletic Conference Championship Game with a national ranking of No. 6 in the Associated Press and USA Today polls. The Bearcats have won their eight games by an average of 25.9 points against a schedule that included two top-25 opponents.
In addition to the major award-winners, The American also named its first, second and honorable mention all-conference teams. Collins and UCF safety Richie Grant become the 11th and 12th players to be unanimously chosen as all-conference first team selections, while Grant becomes the fourth three-time first-team pick in league history, joining former USF running back Marlon Mack, former Memphis kicker Jake Elliott and former Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich.
2020 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FOOTBALL AWARDS
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa *
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chris Naggar, K, SMU
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
Rahjai Harris, RB, East Carolina
Ulysses Bentley IV, RB, SMU
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR
Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
| WR |
Jaylon Robinson |
UCF |
So. |
5-9 |
163 |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| WR |
Marlon Williams |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-0 |
215 |
Mobile, Ala. |
| WR |
Calvin Austin III |
Memphis |
Jr. |
5-9 |
162 |
Memphis, Tenn. |
| OT |
James Hudson |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
6-5 |
310 |
Toledo, Ohio |
| OT |
Tyler Smith |
Tulsa |
RFr. |
6-5 |
332 |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| OG |
Cole Schneider 1 2 |
UCF |
Jr. |
6-4 |
312 |
Fort Myers, Fla. |
| OG |
Peter Nestrowitz |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-3 |
282 |
Washington, N.J. |
| C |
Matthew Lee |
UCF |
RFr. |
6-4 |
290 |
Oviedo, Fla. |
| TE |
Kylen Granson 2 |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-3 |
235 |
Austin, Texas |
| QB |
Desmond Ridder |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
6-4 |
215 |
Louisville, Ky. |
| RB |
Gerrid Doaks |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-0 |
230 |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
| RB |
Rahjai Harris |
East Carolina |
Fr. |
5-10 |
228 |
Duncan, S.C. |
| RB |
Ulysses Bentley IV |
SMU |
RFr. |
5-10 |
184 |
Houston, Texas |
| DL |
Myjai Sanders |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
6-5 |
258 |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| DL |
O’Bryan Goodson H |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-1 |
297 |
Batesville, Miss. |
| DL |
Cameron Sample |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-3 |
280 |
Snellville, Ga. |
| DL |
Jaxon Player |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-0 |
290 |
Waco, Texas |
| LB |
Jarell White |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
5-10 |
205 |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| LB |
Grant Stuard 2 |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-1 |
225 |
Conroe, Texas |
| LB |
Patrick Johnson 2 2 |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-3 |
255 |
Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| LB |
Zaven Collins * |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-4 |
260 |
Hominy, Okla. |
| CB |
Ahmad Gardner 1 |
Cincinnati |
So. |
6-2 |
188 |
Detroit, Mich. |
| CB |
Coby Bryant |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-1 |
198 |
Cleveland, Ohio |
| S |
Richie Grant * 1 1 |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-0 |
194 |
Fort Walton Beach, Fla. |
| S |
James Wiggins 2 |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-0 |
205 |
Miami, Fla. |
| K |
Chris Naggar |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-1 |
195 |
Arlington, Texas |
| P |
Ryan Wright |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-3 |
245 |
San Ramon, Calif. |
| RS |
Marcus Jones |
Houston |
Jr. |
5-8 |
185 |
Enterprise, Ala. |
* unanimous selection
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
| WR |
Michael Young Jr. |
Cincinnati |
Jr. |
5-10 |
190 |
Saint Rose, La. |
| WR |
Tyler Snead |
East Carolina |
So. |
5-7 |
169 |
Raleigh, N.C. |
| WR |
Keylon Stokes |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-0 |
194 |
Manvel, Texas |
| OT |
Jaylon Thomas 2 |
SMU |
Jr. |
6-3 |
312 |
Lubbock, Texas |
| OT |
Chris Paul |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-4 |
331 |
Houston, Texas |
| OG |
Hayden Howerton |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-3 |
300 |
Katy, Texas |
| OG |
Corey Dublin H |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-4 |
312 |
New Orleans, La. |
| C |
Sincere Haynesworth |
Tulane |
So. |
6-1 |
310 |
Pearland, Texas |
| TE |
Josh Whyle |
Cincinnati |
So. |
6-6 |
235 |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| QB |
Dillon Gabriel |
UCF |
So. |
6-0 |
186 |
Mililani, Hawaii |
| RB |
Otis Anderson H |
UCF |
So. |
6-0 |
195 |
Grapevine, Texas |
| RB |
Stephon Huderson |
Tulane |
Sr. |
5-9 |
200 |
Petal, Miss. |
| DL |
Marcus Brown |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-2 |
297 |
Naples, Fla. |
| DL |
Elijah Ponder 1 |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-3 |
275 |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| DL |
Payton Turner |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-6 |
270 |
Houston, Texas |
| DL |
Arnold Ebiketie |
Temple |
Jr. |
6-4 |
240 |
Silver Spring, Md. |
| LB |
Darrian Beavers |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-3 |
242 |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| LB |
Diego Fagot 1 |
Navy |
Jr. |
6-3 |
240 |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| LB |
Antonio Grier |
USF |
Jr. |
6-1 |
222 |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| LB |
Dorian Williams |
Tulane |
So. |
6-1 |
220 |
Fort Mill, S.C. |
| LB |
Justin Wright |
Tulsa |
So. |
6-2 |
234 |
Abilene, Texas |
| CB |
Aaron Robinson 2 |
UCF |
Sr. |
6-1 |
193 |
Deerfield Beach, Fla. |
| CB |
Ja’Quan McMillian |
East Carolina |
So. |
5-10 |
161 |
Winston-Salem, N.C. |
| S |
Quindell Johnson |
Memphis |
So. |
6-1 |
195 |
New Orleans, La. |
| S |
Cristian Williams |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-0 |
180 |
Dallas, Texas |
| K |
Zack Long |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
5-10 |
172 |
Pacific, Mo. |
| P |
James Smith 1 1 2 |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-5 |
235 |
Wangaratta, Australia |
| RS |
Tre Tucker |
Cincinnati |
So. |
5-9 |
172 |
Akron, Ohio |
| RS |
Tyler Snead |
East Carolina |
So. |
5-7 |
169 |
Raleigh, N.C. |
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
| OG |
Lokahi Pauole |
UCF |
So. |
6-4 |
320 |
Kapolei, Hawaii |
| S |
Darrick Forrest 1 |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-0 |
200 |
Columbus, Ohio |
| OT |
Darius Harper |
Cincinnati |
Sr. |
6-7 |
308 |
Springfield, Ohio |
| LB |
Xavier Smith |
East Carolina |
Jr. |
6-0 |
246 |
Stafford, Va. |
| OG |
Braylon Jones |
Houston |
Sr. |
6-4 |
315 |
Tyler, Texas |
| CB |
Damarion Williams |
Houston |
Sr. |
5-11 |
180 |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| TE |
Sean Dykes |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-2 |
224 |
Houston, Texas |
| DL |
Morris Joesph |
Memphis |
Jr. |
6-2 |
275 |
Orange, Texas |
| LB |
Richard McBryde |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-1 |
232 |
Troy, Ala. |
| WR |
Jadan Blue 2 |
Temple |
Jr. |
6-0 |
185 |
Randallstown, Md. |
| OT |
Joey Claybrook |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-6 |
295 |
Starkville, Miss. |
| OG |
Dante Bivens |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-3 |
324 |
Spring, Texas |
| OG |
Dylan Couch |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-3 |
299 |
Pryor, Okla. |
| CB |
Allie Green IV |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-3 |
206 |
Austin, Texas |
| S |
Kendarin Ray |
Tulsa |
So. |
6-4 |
200 |
Brenham, Texas |
| C |
Gerard Wheeler |
Tulsa |
Jr. |
6-3 |
331 |
Plano, Texas |
1 2 H indicates previous selections to first team, second team, or honorable mention