Athlon projects the AAC's best for 2018.
UCF has its sights set on another undefeated record in 2018, and new coach Josh Heupel inherits a roster stacked with talent, including All-America candidate and quarterback McKenzie Milton. The Knights have 14 selections on Athlon’s 2018 American Athletic All-Conference team, which is the most of any program in the league. Including Milton, UCF features nine players earning first-team All-AAC honors. Memphis ranks second in the American Athletic with 13 selections, followed by Temple (12), and SMU and Houston tied with 10.
Athlon Sports has released its top 25 for 2018. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best and honor the top players in the league with a release of first, second, third and fourth all-conference teams for 2018.
An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2018. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2018 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.
American Athletic 2018 All-Conference Team
|
First-Team Offense |
Second-Team Offense |
Third-Team Offense |
Fourth-Team Offense |
|
| QB |
McKenzie Milton UCF |
Malcolm Perry Navy |
Jonathan Banks Tulane |
Ben Hicks SMU |
| RB |
Shamari Brooks Tulsa |
Xavier Jones SMU |
Gerrid Doaks Cincinnati |
Braeden West SMU |
| RB |
Darrell Henderson Memphis |
Ryquell Armstead Temple |
Darius Bradwell Tulane |
Jordan Cronkrite USF |
| AP |
Adrian Killins UCF |
Patrick Taylor Memphis |
Otis Anderson UCF |
Kevin Mensah UConn |
| WR |
Trevon Brown East Carolina |
James Proche SMU |
Isaiah Wright Temple |
Anthony Gargiulo (RB) Navy |
| WR |
Dredrick Snelson UCF |
Justin Hobbs Tulsa |
Damonte Coxie Memphis |
Terren Encalade Tulane |
| TE |
Joey Magnifico Memphis |
Mitchell Wilcox USF |
Sean Dykes Memphis |
Hergy Mayala (WR) UConn |
| C |
Jordan Johnson UCF |
Chandler Miller Tulsa |
Matt Hennessy Temple |
Kahlil Lewis (WR) Cincinnati |
| OL |
Trevon Tate Memphis |
Andrew Wood Navy |
Chad Pursley SMU |
Tyre McCants (WR) USF |
| OL |
Marcus Norman USF |
Josh Jones Houston |
John Spellacy East Carolina |
Jovahn Fair Temple |
| OL |
Tyler Bowling Tulsa |
Drew Kyser Memphis |
Corey Dublin Tulane |
Eric Mayes USF |
| OL |
Wyatt Miller UCF |
Will Noble Houston |
Jake Hawk Navy |
Willie Wright Tulsa |
|
First-Team Defense |
Second-Team Defense |
Third-Team Defense |
Fourth-Team Defense |
|
| DL |
Ed Oliver Houston |
Quincy Roche Temple |
Kevin Bronson USF |
Kevin Mouhon Cincinnati |
| DL |
Marquise Copeland Cincinnati |
Jarvis Polu Navy |
Jackson Pittman Navy |
Dan Archibong Temple |
| DL |
Trysten Hill UCF |
Cortez Broughton Cincinnati |
Robert Kennedy Tulane |
Isaiah Chambers Houston |
| DL |
Greg Reaves USF |
O'Bryan Goodson Memphis |
Jerard Carter Houston |
Sam Franklin (LB) Temple |
| LB |
Pat Jasinski UCF |
Perry Young Cincinnati |
Cooper Edmiston Tulsa |
Zachery Harris Tulane |
| LB |
Shaun Bradley Temple |
Khalid McGee USF |
Emeke Egbule Houston |
Richard Moore SMU |
| LB |
Curtis Akins Memphis |
Kyran Mitchell SMU |
Hudson Sullivan Navy |
Deontay Anderson (S) Houston |
| CB |
T.J. Carter Memphis |
Donnie Lewis Tulane |
Tyler Coyle UConn |
Roderic Teamer (S) Tulane |
| CB |
Jordan Wyatt SMU |
Ronnie Hoggins USF |
Nevelle Clarke UCF |
Reggie Robinson Tulsa |
| S |
Delvon Randall Temple |
McKinley Whitfield Tulsa |
Austin Hall Memphis |
Mikial Onu SMU |
| S |
Kyle Gibson UCF |
Sean Williams Navy |
Garrett Davis Houston |
Tre Neal UCF |
|
First-Team Specialists |
Second-Team Specialists |
Third-Team Specialists |
Fourth-Team Specialists |
|
| K |
Matthew Wright UCF |
Caden Novikoff Houston |
Aaron Boumerhi Temple |
Jake Verity East Carolina |
| P |
James Smith Cincinnati |
Dane Roy Houston |
Thomas Bennett Tulsa |
Mac Loudermilk UCF |
| KR |
Tony Pollard Memphis |
Michael Warren Cincinnati |
Adrian Killins UCF |
Isaiah Wright Temple |
| PR |
Isaiah Wright Temple |
John Williams Memphis |
Quayvon Skanes UConn |
James Proche SMU |
Team-by-Team Breakdown of Athlon's 2018 American Athletic All-Conference Team
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | |
|
Cincinnati
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
UConn
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
East Carolina
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Houston
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 2 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Memphis
|
Offense: 3 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Navy
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
SMU
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Temple
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Tulane
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Tulsa
|
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
UCF
|
Offense: 5 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
|
USF
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
(McKenzie Milton photo courtesy of UCF, Ed Oliver photo courtesy of @UHCougarFB)
