IRVING, Texas — Headlined by American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Trey Moore, UTSA placed 16 student-athletes on the all-conference teams, which were announced Wednesday by the league office.
Making their debut in The American this season, the Roadrunners’ 16 all-conference selections trailed only Tulane and SMU, who each had 17 honorees in a vote by the league’s 14 head coaches.
Moore, a redshirt sophomore from Smithson Valley High School in the midst of a record-setting season, was voted as The American Defensive Player of the Year. The three-time AAC Defensive Player of the Week has posted 45 total tackles, including 30 solo stops, 17.5 tackles for loss and a school-record 14 sacks — only 0.5 shy of the AAC single-season record — to help lead UTSA to an 8-4 overall record and a 7-1 league mark this fall. A Freshman All-American by three organizations last year, he also has three pass breakups, a trio of quarterback hurries, one interception, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Moore currently leads the conference in sacks (1.17) and tackles for loss (1.5) per game, categories in which he ranks second and sixth nationally, respectively.
Moore becomes the seventh player in program history to receive a conference superlative award and the second to be named a conference defensive player of the year along with 2017 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Davenport. It also marks the Roadrunners’ ninth overall conference superlative honor with all but three of those occurring under fourth-year head coach Jeff Traylor, the 2021 and ‘22 Conference USA Coach of the Year.
Moore also earned a spot on the All-AAC First Team, joining cornerback Kam Alexander, wide receiver Joshua Cephus, quarterback Frank Harris and safety Rashad Wisdom. With this year’s five honorees, UTSA now boasts 24 first-team all-conference selections in its history, including 21 in the Jeff Traylor era.
Alexander was named one of two first-team cornerbacks in his UTSA debut campaign. The junior from Manvel, Texas, has registered 33 total tackles, 31 solo stops, one tackle for loss, a team-high 13 pass breakups, an interception and a quarterback hurry. He has forced 12 incompletions and earned an 80.9 NFL passing rating against and an 80.0 grade for defensive coverage from Pro Football Focus.
Cephus is enjoying a career season at the wide receiver spot, as senior from Houston has caught 82 passes for 1,049 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 starts. A second-team All-Conference USA pick a year ago, he has logged three 100-yard games this fall, including a career-high 183 on only four receptions in the 41-27 victory over East Carolina. He currently ranks second in the AAC in receiving yards and third in both receptions per game (6.8) and receiving TDs.
Harris collected his second straight first-team all-conference certificate, as the senior has completed 218 of 336 passes for 2,506 yards and 18 touchdowns and also rushed for 323 yards and four TDs in 10 contests this season. The Schertz Clemens High School product has eclipsed the 300-yard mark through the air three times, including throwing for 411 yards and three TDs and adding 112 and three scores on the ground for a program-record 523 yards of offense in the 49-21 win over South Florida for which he earned Davey O’Brien, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose and AAC Offensive Player of the Week accolades.
Wisdom garnered first-team all-league honors for the third time in his career. The senior safety from Converse Judson High School has recorded 58 total tackles, 47 solo stops, two sacks, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in 12 starts this fall. He has made five-plus tackles in seven games this year, including eight unassisted in the 49-21 triumph over South Florida and seven total stops against No. 18 Tulane.
Four Roadrunners landed on the second team including a pair of specialists in kicker Chase Allen and punter Lucas Dean, offensive guard Terrell Haynes and outside linebacker Donyai Taylor.
UTSA put five players on the third team in offensive tackle Ernesto Almaraz, tight end Oscar Cardenas and defensive linemen Brandon Brown, Joe Evans and Brandon Matterson, while offensive guard Cory Godinet and linebacker Jamal Ligon received honorable mention.
The Roadrunners are bowl eligible for the fourth straight year and will find out their postseason destination on Sunday Dec. 3.
2023 American Athletic Conference Football Awards
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Trey Moore, LB, UTSA
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR — LaJohntay Wester, WR/RS, Florida Atlantic
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR — Makhi Hughes, RB, Tulane
COACH OF THE YEAR — Willie Fritz, Tulane
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
|
Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
|
WR |
LaJohntay Wester |
Florida Atlantic |
Jr. |
5-11 |
167 |
Palmetto, Fla. |
|
WR |
Luke McCaffrey |
Rice |
Jr. |
6-2 |
198 |
Highlands Ranch, Colo. |
|
WR |
Joshua Cephus |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-3 |
185 |
Houston, Texas |
|
OT |
Marcus Bryant |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-8 |
318 |
Round Rock, Texas |
|
OT |
Cameron Wire |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-6 |
305 |
Gonzalez, La. |
|
OG |
Justin Osborne |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-5 |
314 |
Flower Mound, Texas |
|
OG |
Logan Parr |
SMU |
Jr. |
6-4 |
314 |
Helotes, Texas |
|
C |
Sincere Haynesworth |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-1 |
310 |
Pearland, Texas |
|
TE |
RJ Maryland |
SMU |
So. |
6-4 |
233 |
Southlake, Texas |
|
QB |
Frank Harris |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-0 |
205 |
Schertz, Texas |
|
QB |
Michael Pratt |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-3 |
220 |
Boca Raton, Fla. |
|
RB |
Blake Watson |
Memphis |
Sr. |
5-9 |
195 |
Queens, N.Y. |
|
RB |
Makhi Hughes |
Tulane |
RFr. |
5-11 |
205 |
Birmingham, Ala. |
|
DL |
Elijah Chatman |
SMU |
Gr. |
6-0 |
278 |
Shreveport, La. |
|
DL |
Darius Hodges |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-2 |
280 |
Montgomery, Ala. |
|
DL |
Patrick Jenkins |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-2 |
305 |
New Orleans, La. |
|
DL |
Ben Kopenski |
Tulsa |
Gr. |
6-1 |
255 |
McKinney, Texas |
|
LB |
Demetrius Knight II |
Charlotte |
Sr. |
6-2 |
248 |
Locust Grove, Ga. |
|
LB |
Colin Ramos |
Navy |
Jr. |
5-11 |
215 |
Wayne, N.J. |
|
LB |
Chandler Martin |
Memphis |
So. |
6-0 |
215 |
Lithonia, Ga. |
|
LB |
Trey Moore |
UTSA |
So. |
6-3 |
235 |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
CB |
Kam Alexander |
UTSA |
Jr. |
5-11 |
175 |
Manvel, Texas |
|
CB |
Jarius Monroe |
Tulane |
Sr. |
6-2 |
205 |
LaPlace, La. |
|
S |
Julius Wood |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
6-1 |
194 |
Columbus, Ohio |
|
S |
Rashad Wisdom |
UTSA |
Sr. |
5-9 |
210 |
Converse, Texas |
|
K |
Collin Rogers |
SMU |
So. |
6-4 |
206 |
Prattville, Ala. |
|
P |
Riley Reithman |
Navy |
Jr. |
5-10 |
191 |
Keller, Texas |
|
RS |
LaJohntay Wester |
Florida Atlantic |
Jr. |
5-11 |
167 |
Palmetto, Fla. |
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
|
Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
|
WR |
Roc Taylor |
Memphis |
Jr. |
6-3 |
215 |
Oxford, Ala. |
|
WR |
Ja'Mori Maclin |
North Texas |
So. |
5-11 |
183 |
Kirkwood, Mo. |
|
WR |
Sean Atkins |
South Florida |
Gr. |
5-10 |
172 |
Viera, Fla. |
|
OT |
Chaz Neal |
Florida Atlantic |
Sr. |
6-8 |
315 |
Tampa, Fla. |
|
OT |
Xavier Hill |
Memphis |
So. |
6-4 |
318 |
Olive Branch, Miss. |
|
OG |
Gabe Blair |
North Texas |
Jr. |
6-2 |
294 |
Denton, Texas |
|
OG |
Terrell Haynes |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-3 |
345 |
Arlington, Texas |
|
C |
Branson Hickman |
SMU |
Jr. |
6-3 |
294 |
McKinney, Texas |
|
TE |
David Martin-Robinson |
Temple |
Gr. |
6-4 |
255 |
Landisville, Pa. |
|
QB |
Seth Henigan |
Memphis |
Jr. |
6-3 |
210 |
Denton, Texas |
|
RB |
Ayo Adeyi |
North Texas |
Jr. |
5-7 |
192 |
Mansfield, Texas |
|
RB |
Jaylan Knighton |
SMU |
Sr. |
5-10 |
185 |
Lauderhill, Fla. |
|
DL |
Eyabi Okie-Anoma |
Charlotte |
Gr. |
6-5 |
267 |
Baltimore, Md. |
|
DL |
D'Anta Johnson |
East Carolina |
Jr. |
6-2 |
294 |
Dinwiddie, Va. |
|
DL |
Jaylon Allen |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-3 |
240 |
Humble, Texas |
|
DL |
Elijah Roberts |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-4 |
278 |
Miami, Fla. |
|
LB |
Kobe Wilson |
SMU |
Jr. |
6-0 |
226 |
Snellville, Ga. |
|
LB |
Donyai Taylor |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-1 |
205 |
Shiner, Texas |
|
LB |
Jordan Magee |
Temple |
Gr. |
6-3 |
225 |
Dover, Del. |
|
LB |
Jesus Machado |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-1 |
220 |
Miami, Fla. |
|
CB |
Shavon Revel |
East Carolina |
Jr. |
6-2 |
185 |
Winston-Salem, N.C. |
|
CB |
Lance Robinson |
Tulane |
Sr. |
5-11 |
180 |
New Orleans, La. |
|
S |
Kam Pedescleaux |
Tulane |
Sr. |
5-9 |
185 |
Houston, Texas |
|
S |
Kendarin Ray |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-3 |
213 |
Brenham, Texas |
|
K |
Chase Allen |
UTSA |
Jr. |
6-2 |
195 |
Colleyville, Texas |
|
P |
Lucas Dean |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-2 |
215 |
Dunsborough, Australia |
|
RS |
Roderick Daniels Jr. |
SMU |
Jr. |
5-9 |
182 |
Duncanville, Texas |
ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
|
Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
|
WR |
Tejhaun Palmer |
UAB |
Sr. |
6-2 |
210 |
Milwaukee, Wis. |
|
WR |
Chris Brazzell |
Tulane |
RFr. |
6-5 |
195 |
Midland, Texas |
|
WR |
Lawrence Keys III |
Tulane |
Sr. |
5-11 |
170 |
New Orleans, La. |
|
OT |
Ernesto Almaraz |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-2 |
295 |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
|
OT |
Rashad Green |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-4 |
300 |
Baton Rouge, La. |
|
OG |
Febechi Nwaiwu |
North Texas |
So. |
6-4 |
316 |
Coppell, Texas |
|
OG |
Chester Baah |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-3 |
303 |
Tulsa, Okla. |
|
C |
Jacob Likes |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-3 |
305 |
Memphis, Tenn. |
|
TE |
Oscar Cardenas |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-4 |
285 |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
QB |
Preston Stone |
SMU |
So. |
6-1 |
219 |
Dallas, Texas |
|
RB |
Jermaine Brown Jr. |
UAB |
Sr. |
5-8 |
195 |
Prichard, Ala. |
|
RB |
Anthony Watkins |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
5-11 |
210 |
Fort Worth, Texas |
|
DL |
Evan Anderson |
Florida Atlantic |
Jr. |
6-3 |
356 |
West Orlando, Fla. |
|
DL |
Brandon Brown |
UTSA |
Jr. |
6-2 |
310 |
Brandon Brown |
|
DL |
Joe Evans |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-3 |
340 |
Haynesville, La. |
|
DL |
Brandon Matterson |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-2 |
295 |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
LB |
Nikhai Hill-Green |
Charlotte |
So. |
6-2 |
232 |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
|
LB |
Jeremy Lewis |
East Carolina |
Sr. |
6-2 |
237 |
Greenville, NC. |
|
LB |
Jordan Brown |
North Texas |
Jr. |
6-1 |
228 |
Huntsville, Texas |
|
LB |
Tyler Grubbs |
Tulane |
Jr. |
6-2 |
230 |
New Orleans, La. |
|
CB |
Dontae Balfour |
Charlotte |
So. |
6-2 |
180 |
Starke, Fla. |
|
CB |
Charles Woods |
SMU |
Sr. |
5-11 |
191 |
Dallas, Texas |
|
S |
Jarron Morris |
Florida Atlantic |
Gr. |
5-9 |
170 |
Orange, Texas |
|
S |
Simeon Blair |
Memphis |
Sr. |
5-10 |
208 |
Pine Bluff, Ark. |
|
S |
Rayuan Lane |
Navy |
Jr. |
5-11 |
197 |
Jessup, Md. |
|
S |
Jonathan McGill |
SMU |
Sr. |
5-10 |
186 |
Coppell, Texas |
|
K |
Noah Rauschenberg |
North Texas |
Sr. |
6-0 |
198 |
Tulsa, Okla. |
|
K |
Chase Meyer |
Tulsa |
So. |
5-10 |
195 |
Costa Mesa, Calif. |
|
P |
Ryan Bujcevski |
SMU |
Gr. |
6-0 |
177 |
Sydney, Australia |
|
RS |
Jha'Quan Jackson |
Tulane |
Sr. |
5-11 |
185 |
Luling, La. |
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
|
Pos. |
Player |
School |
Cl. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Hometown |
|
P |
Grant Gonya |
Charlotte |
Sr. |
6-2 |
213 |
Hudson, Ohio |
|
OG |
Kevin Williams Jr. |
Charlotte |
Sr. |
6-5 |
338 |
Omaha, Neb. |
|
DL |
Chad Stephens |
East Carolina |
Jr. |
6-1 |
261 |
Greensboro, N.C. |
|
LB |
Geoffrey Cantin-Arku |
Memphis |
Sr. |
6-3 |
240 |
Lévis, Que. |
|
LB |
Will Harbour |
Navy |
Sr. |
6-1 |
230 |
Frisco, Texas |
|
CB |
Dashaun Peele |
Navy |
Jr. |
5-11 |
197 |
Norfolk, Va. |
|
RB |
Alex Tecza |
Navy |
So. |
6-0 |
195 |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
|
RB |
Dean Connors |
Rice |
Jr. |
6-2 |
210 |
Kamuela, Hawaii |
|
LB |
Myron Morrison |
Rice |
Jr. |
6-3 |
215 |
Humble, Texas |
|
DL |
Josh Pearcy |
Rice |
Jr. |
6-2 |
243 |
Moorestown, N.J. |
|
S |
Gabriel Taylor |
Rice |
Jr. |
5-10 |
190 |
Miami, Fla. |
|
CB |
Aamaris Brown-Bunkley |
South Florida |
Sr. |
5-10 |
195 |
Seffner, Fla. |
|
DL |
Rashad Cheney Jr. |
South Florida |
Sr. |
6-2 |
285 |
Atlanta, Ga. |
|
OG |
Zane Herring |
South Florida |
Sr. |
6-5 |
319 |
Madison, Fla. |
|
LB |
Jhalyn Shuler |
South Florida |
Sr. |
6-1 |
225 |
Abbeville, S.C. |
|
CB |
Chris Megginson |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-0 |
192 |
Cypress, Texas |
|
LB |
Ahmad Walker |
SMU |
Jr. |
5-11 |
228 |
Warner Robins, Ga. |
|
OT |
Hyrin White |
SMU |
Sr. |
6-7 |
332 |
DeSoto, Texas |
|
OG |
Cory Godinet |
UTSA |
So. |
6-5 |
350 |
Leone, American Samoa |
|
LB |
Jamal Ligon |
UTSA |
Sr. |
6-2 |
225 |
Tyler, Texas |
|
LB |
Devean Deal |
Tulane |
So. |
6-4 |
245 |
El Paso, Texas |
|
P |
Will Karoll |
Tulane |
Fr. |
6-4 |
200 |
Sydney, Australia |
|
RS |
Shedro Louis |
Tulane |
Sr. |
5-8 |
170 |
Immokalee, Fla. |
|
OT |
Darrell Simpson |
Tulsa |
Sr. |
6-6 |
345 |
Justin, Texas |
|
OG |
Wisdom Quarshie |
Temple |
Gr. |
6-3 |
305 |
Sicklerville, N.J. |
|
OT |
Victor Stoffel |
Temple |
Gr. |
6-8 |
300 |
Stockholm, Sweden |
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