College Football 2018 Conference Previews -- AAC

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

OVERVIEW

UCF's Josh Heupel

The overriding storyline for the American Athletic Conference is just how long the wins can keep coming for UCF. The Knights went undefeated last season and staked their own claim to a national championship, and enter this season with the nation's longest current win streak. Quarterback McKenzie Milton is back to pilot the offense, but it won't be business as usual due to some pretty substantial losses.

UCF lost top receiver Tre'Quan Smith and tight end Jordan Akins, as well as top defenders Shaquem Griffin and Mike Hughes. As good as they were, the defense was barely mediocre in 2017, and it's hard to believe it will get better when your best players are gone. Pat Jasinski should be the defensive leader from his linebacker spot, and Milton's job will be made a bit easier by the presence of lightning-quick running back Adrian Killins Jr. The schedule includes a trips to Memphis and USF, plus a home date with Lane Kiffin's FAU Owls that should be marquee viewing. USF lost a generational player in quarterback Quinton Flowers, but could shift into more of a passing team with ex-Alabama/Arizona State quarterback Blake Barnett at the helm. Tall and blessed with a big arm, Barnett has a veteran receiving corps and one of the best tight ends in the league in Mitchell Wilcox. The Bulls defense was stout a year ago and returns five starters. Defense was a bit of an issue for Temple, which allowed nearly 26 points per game, its highest total since 2013. A solid linebacker corps and a standout safety in Delvon Randall should mean improvement for an aggressive group that was 13th nationally in tackles for loss. The offense is led by quarterback Frank Nutile, who has a solid group of weapons at his disposal, led by receiver Isaiah Wright.

Memphis lost the lethal pitch and catch duo of Riley Ferguson to Anthony Miller, but returns a great running game with Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor splitting carries and doing damage. Brady White comes in from Arizona State to play quarterback, and receiver/return man extraordinaire Tony Pollard is back to terrorize foes. The defense needs to get better, and may thanks to eight returning starters. A disappointing seven-win season was not what Houston expected last year, but the offense went south early and never recovered. With the job now his, D'Eriq King should be able to operate the offense smoothly. He has untested weapons around him, though Utah grad transfer Raelon Singleton is a good one. Defense is where the Cougars could be one of the best in the league, as manchild Ed Oliver is back for his junior -- and final -- season in H-Town. The secondary is experienced and gains the services of Ole Miss transfer Deontay Anderson, a former prep All-American. A week two showdown at home against Arizona should be very interesting. Navy won fewer than eight games for the first time since 2011, and a lot of that was due to injury. Quarterback was hit especially hard as three different starters took the field for the Middies. Malcolm Perry is the clear starter and averaged nearly nine yards per tote last year. Last year's starter Zach Abey moves to receiver. The defense improved a lot from 2016, and nose guard Jackson Pittman is one of the better interior players in the conference. If one team is going to make a move this year it could be Tulane, which has made steady progress under coach Willie Fritz. The Green Wave have gone from winning three games the season before his arrival to five last year, and two of the Wave's seven losses were decided by two (Navy) and one (Cincinnati) point. Quarterback Jonathan Banks is one of the better dual threats in the nation, but needs to get more accurate with his passing. Running back Corey Dauphine and wideout Terren Encalade could be ready to breakout, and the line returns four starters. The defense must get better, and true freshman Jeffery Johnson (once an Alabama commit) could help bring down a 5.4 yards against rushing average. Tulane last went to a bowl game in 2013, and hasn't won one since 2002.

RISING: Tulane
FALLING: SMU
BOWL TEAMS (7): UCF, USF, Temple, Memphis, Houston, Navy, Tulane

AAC PROJECTED STANDINGS
EAST
1 UCF (10-3, 7-1)
2 USF (8-4, 5-3)

3 Temple (7-5, 5-3)

4 Cincinnati (5-7, 4-4)

5 UConn (4-8, 2-6)

6 East Carolina (3-9, 1-7) 
WEST
1 Memphis (9-4, 6-2)

2 Houston (8-4, 5-3)

3 Navy (9-4, 4-4)

4 Tulane (6-6, 4-4)

5 SMU (5-7, 3-5)

6 Tulsa (4-8, 2-6) 
AAC CHAMPIONSHIP
UCF over Memphis

ALL-AAC TEAM

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

QB McKenzie Milton/UCF

RB Darrell Henderson/Memphis

RB Adrian Killins/UCF

WR Trevon Brown/East Carolina

WR Dredrick Snelson/UCF

WR James Proche/SMU

TE Joey Magnifico/Memphis

OL Marcus Norman/USF

OL Wyatt Miller/UCF

OL Tyler Bowling/Tulsa

OL Chandler Miller/Tulsa

OL Jordan Johnson/UCF

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL Ed Oliver/Houston

DL Cortez Broughton/Cincinnati

DL Greg Reaves/USF

DL Trysten Hill/UCF

LB Pat Jasinski/UCF

LB Shaun Bradley/Temple

LB Cooper Edmiston/Tulsa

LB Curtis Akins/Memphis

DB TJ Carter/Memphis

DB McKinley Whitfield/Tulsa

DB Delvon Randall/Temple

DB Kyle Gibson/UCF

FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS

 K  Matthew Wright/UCF

 P   James Smith/Cincinnati

KR Tony Pollard/Memphis

PR Isaiah Wright/Temple

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

QB Jonathan Banks/Tulane

RB Xavier Jones/SMU

RB Ryquell Armstead/Temple

WR Justin Hobbs/Tulsa

WR Tyre McCants/USF

WR Terren Encalade/Tulane

TE Mitchell Wilcox/USF

OL Trevon Tate/Memphis

OL Jon Spellacy/East Carolina

OL Andrew Wood/Navy

OL Drew Kyser/Memphis

OL Matt Hennessy/Temple

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL O'Bryan Goodson/Memphis

DL Marquise Copeland/Cincinnati

DL Jeffery Johnson/Tulane

DL Jackson Pittman/Navy

LB Khalid McGee/USF

LB Emeke Egbule/Houston

LB Nico Sawtelle/USF

LB Aaron Ramseur/East Carolina

DB Ronnie Hoggins/USF

DB Mikial Onu/SMU

DB Sean Williams/Navy

DB Donnie Lewis/Tulane

SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS

  K Caden Novikoff/Houston

  P  Thomas Bennett/Tulsa

KR Jordan Swann/UConn

PR John Williams/Memphis

 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: McKenzie Milton/UCF

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ed Oliver/Houston

COACH OF THE YEAR: Ken Niumatalolo/Navy

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: DL Jeffery Johnson/Tulane