IRVING, Texas – An American Athletic Conference-record three football players – Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner, Houston cornerback Marcus Jones and South Florida running back Brian Battie – have been named to the 2021 NCAA Consensus All-America Team.
To be named to the Consensus All-America Team, players have to be listed on the first team for more than half of the All-America teams used in the compilation (American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, Walter Camp Football Foundation).
The three American Athletic Conference selections rank third among the FBS conferences, behind only the SEC (eight selections) and the Big Ten (six selections). The 2021 season marks the third time in the last four years that The American has had two or more Consensus All-America players.
Gardner was the unanimous American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 after he led a Cincinnati secondary that ranks first nationally in pass efficiency defense (100.47). Gardner enters the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic with 35 tackles, three sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, a forced fumble and four pass breakups.
Jones was The American’s 2021 Special Teams Player of the Year as he enters the postseason as the only FBS player with four special teams touchdowns (two kickoff returns, two punt returns). Jones averaged 34.0 yards on 15 kickoff returns and 14.4 yards on 26 punt returns, had five interceptions as an all-conference cornerback and contributed on offense with 10 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Battie led all FBS players with three touchdowns on kickoff returns in 2021 as he averaged 33.9 yards on 19 returns. He tied an NCAA record with two 100-yard kickoff returns in the Bulls’ game against Houston and added a 100-yard return in South Florida’s game against Tulsa. Battie also rushed for 324 yards and a touchdown in 2021 and finished the season with 1,035 all-purpose yards.
2021 NCAA Consensus All-America Team
Offense
Jordan Addison, WR, Pitt
David Bell, WR, Purdue
Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State *
Ikem Ekwonu, OL, NC State *
Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky
Evan Neal, OL, Alabama
Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa *
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State *
Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Jake Moody, K, Michigan
Brian Battie, Ret/AP, South Florida
Marcus Jones, Ret/AP, Houston
Deuce Vaughn, Ret/AP, Kansas State
Defense
Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia *
Aidan Hutchinson, DL, Michigan *
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DL, Oregon *
DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
Will Anderson Jr., LB, Alabama *
Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia *
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Jalen Pitre, DB, Baylor
Ahmad Gardner, DB, Cincinnati
Verone McKinley III, DB, Oregon
Kyle Hamilton, DB, Notre Dame
Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State *
* unanimous selection
American Athletic Conference Consensus All-America Selections
2013 – Tom Hornsey, P, Memphis
2015 – Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
2017 – Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis
2017 – Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
2018 – Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis
2018 – Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
2020 – Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
2021 – Ahmad Gardner, DB, Cincinnati
2021 – Marcus Jones, Ret/AP, Houston
2021 – Brian Battie, Ret/AP, South Florida