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

No. 20 UCF Gets Up Close Look At Navy's Option

There aren't too many places where the head coach would be running the scout team offense to prepare his team for an upcoming game.

But that's precisely what Central Florida coach Scott Frost has done in practice this week, preparing his team to take on Navy Saturday afternoon in Annapolis, Md., in a crucial American Athletic Conference game. The Knights (5-0, 3-0) are ranked 20th in the nation, something that has happened just twice before, and possess one of the most explosive offenses in the country. UCF leads the nation at 50.4 points per game, ranks fifth in total offense and is one of just three teams averaging over eight yards per play.

With only six seasons of nine wins or more since ascending to the FBS level in 1996, UCF is making a name for itself and venturing into uncharted territory. The Knights will be facing a unique attack in Navy's triple option, which is why Frost -- an option quarterback in his playing days at Nebraska -- was under center in practice.

The zero in the loss column makes UCF a target, and Frost knows that Navy (5-1, 3-1) will be ready to go, especially after losing its first game of the season last week against Memphis. UCF has never opened the season with six straight victories.

UCF's McKenzie Milton has been one of the best QBs in the country (Reinhold Matay/USAToday)

"You see teams around the country have letdowns once in a while," Frost said. "You saw a few last week. Our guys came out ready to play Saturday and I think that's a good sign. We know the challenge we have ahead of us right now. This is one of the best teams in the league and we're playing them on the road. Our guys will be locked in ready to play. We'll see if that's good enough to win. Really, the games you're supposed to win are the ones you worry about it a little bit. This is just another opportunity for us to attack and try to beat a good team in the league."

UCF ranks in the top 10 in passing offense, fueled by the stellar play of sophomore McKenzie Milton. A lightly regarded recruit from Hawaii, Milton has thrown 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions this season, and his 11.6 yards per attempt ranks second in the country. Milton, who started 10 games as a freshman, is not afraid to take shots downfield. Most go to Tre'Quan Smith, who averages 21.5 yards per catch on 20 grabs, with seven touchdowns. Jordin Akins is no slouch on the other side, averaging 19.4 yards per catch with three scores.

The Knights aren't one-dimensional offensively, either, ranking 22nd in rushing, averaging 5.8 yards per rush and scoring 16 touchdowns.

“We recognize this will be a tough challenge because we know how good Memphis is and this team beat Memphis,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo told reporters Monday. “We’re going to have our hands full stopping them and we’re going to have our hands full moving the ball. They’re undefeated for a reason.”

UCF is also top 30 in total defense, including allowing just 3.7 yards per rush and four touchdowns.

The Knights will be tested by Navy's relentless option attack, led by quarterback Zach Abey. The Middies lead the country in rushing yards per game, average nearly 6.2 yards per carry and have 23 touchdowns. Abey is second nationally in rushing, averaging 169.3 yards per game with 12 touchdowns. Slotback Malcolm Perry has the nation's highest yards per carry, 11.5, with three touchdowns, and Chris High and Darryl Bonner are both valuable runners, as well.

Navy is 10th nationally in third down conversions, and Frost knows that keeping the Middies from rolling up first downs will be paramount in any victory.

"Their third downs are different than most people's third downs," Frost explained. "They get a lot of third-and-shorts because you don't see a lot of negative plays from them. First and second downs are vital to make sure you're in the type of third down to where you can get a stop. They go for it on fourth down more than anybody, including us. A lot of times you have to play four downs against them. Our defense is excited. This is a different brand a football, a challenge they haven't seen in a while."

Navy QB Zach Abey is second in the nation in rushing (USAToday)

Navy will need to be sound on defense, something that has eluded the Middies for much of the season. Navy has allowed 21 or more points in all but one game this year, and is 87th against the pass.

That could spell trouble for Navy, as could hanging on to the football. The Middies have turned the ball over six times in the last three games, including three fumbles against Memphis. It was the most turnovers by a Navy team since 2002 when it had six against Boston College in 2002. 

“We’re not going to beat anybody with five turnovers. I mean, you lose five drives,” Niumatalolo said after the game. “I can’t remember the last time we had five turnovers. I’m surprised we were still in the game.”

This will be UCF first glimpse of the triple option this season, though not intentionally. A mid-September game against Georgia Tech was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma, and the Yellow Jackets have one of the most potent option attacks anywhere.

Not seeing it has made having a good week of practice more important this week, and the players enjoyed seeing their coach running around with the football.

"It's kind of exciting to see him running around," UCF senior linebacker Shaquem Griffin said after Monday morning's practice. "You're not going to get a better look than having Coach Frost in there. He knows what we will see from Navy."

For his part, Frost was more than happy to assume scout team quarterback duties.

"I love option football," Frost said. "I lived it. I feel like option quarterbacks now are kind of like giant pandas. They only exist in zoos and military academies now."

While practice has been a lot of fun this week, UCF knows that Navy is going to be in a lather because of last weekend's loss. The Knights won't be able to take plays off.

"It's their homecoming. It's at their place. I'm kind of excited to see it," Frost said. "I have a lot of respect for what the Naval Academy is, what they stand for and how their kids play. They beat people because they play harder and they're smarter. I want our guys to play harder than them and be smarter. That's a challenge for us. We're going to have to prepare for it this week.

"I'm anxious to see it. I'm excited to go up there and see the pageantry of the academy. I know it's their homecoming so it's going to be more special. We're not going to treat it any different than any other game. We'll have the ability to go with a silent count if we need to. Other than that, most of our communication is non-verbal anyway. I'm looking forward to seeing that place and what it looks like. We're excited to play a football game."