American Conference football individual awards

The American Conference (American), known before July 2025 as the American Athletic Conference, gives five football awards at the conclusion of every season. The awards were first given in 2013, following the restructuring of the Big East Conference. The awards existed in the same format in the Big East from 1991 to 2012.

The five awards include Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Special Teams Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Recipients are selected by the votes of the conference's head coaches.

Offensive Player of the Year

The Offensive Player of the Year is awarded to the player voted most outstanding at an offensive position.

Winners

* Unanimous selection
† Co-winner
Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player has been selected
Season Player Pos. Team Ref
2013Blake BortlesQBUCF
2014Shane CardenQBEast Carolina
2015Keenan ReynoldsQBNavy
2016Quinton FlowersQBSouth Florida
2017McKenzie MiltonQBUCF
2018McKenzie Milton (2)QBUCF
2019Malcolm PerryQBNavy
2020Desmond RidderQBCincinnati
2021Desmond Ridder (2)QBCincinnati
2022Tyjae SpearsRBTulane
2023Michael PrattQBTulane
2024Bryson DailyQBArmy
2025Drew MestemakerQBNorth Texas

Winners by school

School (Seasons)WinnersYears
UCF (2013–2022)32013, 2017, 2018
Cincinnati (2013–2022)22020, 2021
Navy (2015–)22015, 2019
Tulane (2014–)22022, 2023
Army (2024–)12024
East Carolina (2014–)12014
North Texas (2023–)12025
USF (2013–)12016

Defensive Player of the Year

The Defensive Player of the Year is awarded to the player voted most outstanding at a defensive position.

Winners

* Unanimous selection
† Co-winner
Season Player Pos. Team Ref
2013Marcus SmithDELouisville
2014Jacoby Glenn†CBUCF
Tank Jakes†LBMemphis
2015Tyler MatakevichLBTemple
2016Shaquem GriffinLBUCF
2017Ed OliverDTHouston
2018Nate HarveyDEEast Carolina
2019Quincy RocheDETemple
2020Zaven Collins*LBTulsa
2021Sauce Gardner*CBCincinnati
2022Ivan Pace Jr.LBCincinnati
2023Trey MooreLBUTSA
2024Jimmori RobinsonLBUTSA
2025Landon RobinsonDTNavy

Winners by school

School (Seasons)WinnersYears
Cincinnati (2013–2022)22021, 2022
Temple (2013–)22015, 2019
UCF (2013–2022)22014, 2016
UTSA (2023–)22023, 2024
East Carolina (2014–)12018
Houston (2013–2022)12017
Memphis (2013–)12014
Navy (2015–)12025
Louisville (2013)12013
Tulsa (2014–)12020

Special Teams Player of the Year

The Special Teams Player of the Year award is given to the player voted best on special teams. The recipient can either be a placekicker, punter, returner, or a position known as a gunner.

Winners

* Unanimous selection
† Co-winner
Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player has been selected
Season Player Pos. Team Ref
2013Demarcus Ayers†RSHouston
Tom Hornsey†PMemphis
2014Jake ElliottKMemphis
2015Jake Elliott (2)KMemphis
2016Tony PollardKRMemphis
2017Tony Pollard (2)KRMemphis
2018Isaiah WrightRSTemple
2019Dane Roy†PHouston
Antonio Gibson†RSMemphis
2020Chris NaggarKSMU
2021Marcus JonesRSHouston
2022Mason FletcherPCincinnati
2023LaJohntay WesterRSFlorida Atlantic
2024Jonah DelangeKUAB
2025Patrick DurkinKTulane

Winners by school

School (Seasons)WinnersYears
Memphis (2013–)62013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
Houston (2013–2022)32013, 2019, 2021
Cincinnati (2013–2022)12022
Florida Atlantic (2023–)12023
SMU (2013–)12020
Temple (2013–)12018
Tulane (2014–)12025
UTSA (2023–)12024

Rookie of the Year

The Rookie of the Year award is given to the conference's best freshman.

Winners

* Unanimous selection
† Co-winner
Season Player Pos. Team Ref
2013John O'KornQBHouston
2014Marlon MackRBSouth Florida
2015Tre'Quan SmithWRUCF
2016Ed OliverDTHouston
2017T. J. CarterCBMemphis
2018Desmond RidderQBCincinnati
2019Kenneth GainwellRBMemphis
2020Rahjai Harris†RBEast Carolina
Ulysses Bentley IVRBSMU
2021Alton McCaskillRBHouston
2022E. J. WarnerQBTemple
2023Makhi HughesRBTulane
2024Joseph WilliamsWRTulsa
2025Caleb HawkinsRBNorth Texas

Winners by school

School (Seasons)WinnersYears
Houston (2013–2022)32013, 2016, 2021
Memphis (2013–)22017, 2019
Cincinnati (2013–2022)12018
East Carolina (2014–)12020
North Texas (2023–)12025
SMU (2013–)12020
Temple (2013–)12022
Tulane (2014–)12023
Tulsa (2014–)12024
USF (2013–)12014
UCF (2013–2022)12015

Coach of the Year

George O'Leary won the first award with UCF after an 11–1 regular season in which UCF earned The American's last automatic berth to a BCS bowl game, the first major bowl appearance in school history.

Winners

Records reflect those at the time of selection, and do not include the conference championship game, the Army–Navy Game (which takes place a week after the conference title game), or bowl games.

George O'Leary, the 2013 winner
* Unanimous selection
† Co-Coach of the Year
Coach (X) Denotes the number of times the coach has been selected
Season Coach School Year with school Record
2013George O'LearyUCF10th11–1
2014Justin FuenteMemphis3rd9–3
2015†Tom HermanHouston1st11–1
2015†Ken NiumataloloNavy8th9–2
2016Ken Niumatalolo (2)Navy9th9–2
2017Scott FrostUCF2nd12–0
2018Luke FickellCincinnati2nd11–2
2019Ken Niumatalolo (3)Navy12th11–2
2020Luke Fickell (2)Cincinnati4th9–1
2021Luke Fickell (3)Cincinnati5th12–0
2022Willie FritzTulane7th10–2
2023Willie FritzTulane8th11–1
2024Jeff MonkenArmy11th10–1
2025Eric MorrisNorth Texas3rd11–1

Winners by school

School (Seasons)WinnersYears
Cincinnati (2013–2022)32018, 2020, 2021
Navy (2015–)32015, 2016, 2019
Tulane (2014–)22022, 2023
UCF (2013–2022)22013, 2017
Army (2024–)12024
Houston (2013–2022)12015
Memphis (2013–)12014
North Texas (2023–)12025

Footnotes

References

  1. ↑ "American Conference Launches Modernized Brand Identity Ahead of Football Media Days" (Press release). American Conference. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  2. 1 2 American Athletic Conference (December 11, 2013). "American Athletic Conference Announces 2013 Postseason Football Honors". Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "American Athletic Conference Announces 2014 Postseason Football Honors" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2015 Postseason Football Honors" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. December 2, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "American Athletic Conference Announces 2016 Football Honors" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "2017 American Athletic Conference Football Postseason Honors" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. November 29, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "UCF's Milton, ECU's Harvey, Temple's Wright Named as American Players of the Year" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. November 28, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "American Announces 2019 Postseason Football Honors" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. December 4, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "American Announces 2020 Football Postseason Honors" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "American Announces 2021 Football Postseason Honors". theAmerican.org. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "2022 Postseason Football Honors" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "2024 Postseason Football Honors" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 "American Announces 2024 Football Award Winners".
  14. 1 2 3 "American Announces 2025 Football Award Winners".
  15. 1 2
  16. 1 2
  17. ↑ "ACC votes to add Louisville". Sports Illustrated. November 28, 2012. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2013.