DALLAS — UTSA running back Sincere McCormick has been named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and Jeff Traylor has been tabbed C-USA Coach of the Year, as the league office on Tuesday unveiled its superlative awards as voted on by the 14 head coaches.
McCormick secured the league's offensive award for the second straight season, while Traylor picked up his third coaching honor in as many days this week, marking the second consecutive year UTSA has collected multiple C-USA awards. It also gives UTSA seven total conference superlative awards, as McCormick was the league's freshman of the year in 2019, while Marcus Davenport (2017 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year), Lucas Dean (2020 C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year) and Josiah Tauaefa (2016 C-USA Freshman of the Year) also have been honored.
Today's honors for McCormick and Traylor come on the heels of a program-record 23 Roadrunners being listed on the all-conference and all-freshman teams that were unveiled on Tuesday.
McCormick has rushed for 1,479 yards and 15 touchdowns on 298 carries — all UTSA records — and caught 22 passes for 184 yards in 13 games this fall. The Converse Judson High School product has topped the 100-yard mark on the ground in a program-record and league-best eight games, including rushing for 204 yards and three TDs in the 49-41 victory against WKU in the Conference USA Championship Game. The All-American broke his own UTSA standard for single-game attempts with 41 for 184 yards and three scores in the 31-28 comeback win at Memphis, and he also reached the end zone three times after rushing for 113 yards in the 45-16 victory over Louisiana Tech.
A semifinalist for both the Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Awards, McCormick leads C-USA and ranks fifth in the FBS in rushing yards and he sits 10th nationally in rushing touchdowns. He owns 20 school records including rushing yards (3,929), rushing TDs (34), 100-yard rushing performances (18) and all-purpose yards (4,438).
Traylor has guided the No. 24 Roadrunners to a 12-1 record and the program's first conference championship in his second season at the helm, and he now will lead UTSA to its second straight and third overall bowl appearance. The Gilmer, Texas, native has registered a 19-6 record during his tenure in San Antonio, the best 25-game start in program history. He has mentored four All-Americans and has seen his players combine for 46 all-conference and C-USA All-Freshman Team selections.
Under Traylor's leadership, UTSA opened the 2021 campaign with a school-record 11 consecutive victories and has been ranked as high as 15th nationally. The Roadrunners secured their first C-USA West Division crown with a 34-31 win over UAB on Nov. 20 before capturing the first league title in their 11-year history with the home triumph over WKU in the C-USA Championship Game on Dec. 3.
The Roadrunners will make their second straight and third overall bowl appearance when they face San Diego State (11-2) in the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Toyota Stadium in Frisco and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
2021 Conference USA Awards
Most Valuable Player: WKU QB Bailey Zappe
Offensive Player of the Year: UTSA RB Sincere McCormick
Defensive Player of the Year: WKU DE DeAngelo Malone
Special Teams Player of the Year: FIU P Tommy Heatherly
Freshman of the Year: Charlotte WR Elijah Spencer
Newcomer of the Year: WKU WR Jerreth Sterns
Coach of the Year: UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor
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