Sutton, Lawler Named To AAC Fifth Anniversary Team

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From SMUMustangs.com:

Sutton, Lawler Named To American Athletic Conference Fifth Anniversary Team

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AAC/SMU) -- Former SMU standouts Courtland Sutton and Justin Lawler have been named to the American Athletic Conference Fifth Anniversary Football Team, the league announced Monday. The team was selected by a combination of votes from fans, votes from the 12 football-playing schools in the conference and votes from local and national media that covers the conference.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton was chosen by the Denver Broncos as the eighth pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Sutton joined former SMU standout Emmanuel Sanders in Denver. During his time on the Hilltop, Sutton earned SB Nation All-America Honorable Mention accolades and was a first-team All-AAC selection following his junior season. The Brenham, Texas, native ranked eighth nationally in receiving touchdowns with 12, while coming in at 21st in receiving yards (1,085) and 26th in receiving yards per game (83.5). He was second on the team with 68 receptions. Sutton climbed into the top 10 on SMU career lists for receiving yards (3,220), receptions (195), touchdown receptions (31) and 100-yard receiving games (20). Sutton was also named to Biletnikoff and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose watch lists as a sophomore, and has twice been selected to the all-conference first team.

Defensive end Justin Lawler was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft. He was chosen as the 26th pick in the round by the Los Angeles Rams. Lawler, the 244th overall pick, started all 13 games for the Mustangs at defensive end in 2017, helping SMU to seven wins and its first Bowl appearance since 2012. A first-team All-league selection, Lawler was a member of the Ted Hendricks Award Final Watch List and earned a spot on Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski and Wuerffel Trophy preseason lists. Additionally, he was a nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team. He tied for the national lead in blocked kicks with three, and led SMU with 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, tied for fifth in a single season for a Mustang. His 0.73 sacks per game ranked him 16th nationally. Lawler was second on the team with 74 tackles (42 solo, 32 asst). In four seasons on the Hilltop, Lawler played in 49 games finishing with 20.5 sacks, tied for second on SMU's all-time list, for 145 yards. Lawler registered 226 tackles, 39.5 for loss, and added six blocked kicks.

Courtesy the American Athletic Conference

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Twenty-two players on NFL rosters are among the 30 current and former American Athletic Conference players who have been named to the American Athletic Conference Fifth Anniversary Football Team.

Voting for the team was conducted in late June and early July. The team was selected based on three components – a fan vote, a vote of local and national media members, and a vote of the conference's 12 football programs.

The honorees include NCAA record-holders, All-America players, Heisman Trophy candidates and national individual award-winners. At least one player from all 12 current American Athletic Conference teams was voted to the team.

Two active players were selected. Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who was a consensus All-America pick and the winner of the 2017 Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman, joins Memphis return specialist Tony Pollard, a two-time American Special Teams Player of the Year.

OFFENSE

Quarterback
Keenan Reynolds, Navy (2015)
2015 Offensive Player of the Year; fifth in Heisman Trophy voting; NCAA career record for touchdowns; plays for Seattle Seahawks

Running Backs
D'Angelo Brewer, Tulsa (2014-16)
Two-time all-conference selection; holds American career rushing record (3,917 yards)

Marlon Mack, USF (2013-16)
Three-time first team all-conference selection; 2014 Rookie of the Year; 3,609 career yards; plays for Indianapolis Colts

Wide Receivers
Zay Jones, ECU (2014-16)
Two-time all-conference pick; 2016 Biletnikoff Award finalist; set conference and NCAA single-season and career receptions records; Academic All-America; plays for Buffalo Bills

Anthony Miller, Memphis (2014-17)
Two-time all-conference selection; 2017 Consensus All-America; conference-records of 18 TDs in 2017 and 37 in career; plays for Chicago Bears

Courtland Sutton, SMU (2015-17)
Two-time first-team all-conference pick; 31 career touchdown receptions ranks second in conference history; plays for Denver Broncos

Tight End
Jordan Akins, UCF (2014-17)
First team all-conference in 2017; plays for Houston Texans

Offensive Tackles
Kofi Amichia, USF (2013-16)
First team all-conference in 2016; plays for Green Bay Packers

Dion Dawkins, Temple (2013-16)
Two-time all-conference selection; made 41 career starts; plays for Buffalo Bills

Eric Lefeld, Cincinnati (2013)
Unanimous first-team all-conference selection in 2013

Offensive Guards
E.K. Binns, Navy (2015)
First team all-conference in 2015; Academic All-America selection

Adam West, Navy (2015-16)
First team all-conference in 2016

Center
Kyle Friend, Temple (2013-16)
First team all-conference in 2015; made 41 career starts; plays for Carolina Panthers

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Defensive Linemen
Matt Ioannidis, Temple (2013-16)
Two-time all-conference selection; plays for Washington Redskins

Justin Lawler, SMU (2013-17)
Two-time first-team all-conference pick; plays for Los Angeles Rams

Ed Oliver, Houston (2016-present)
Consensus All-America and American Defensive Player of the Year in 2017; two-time first team all-conference

Haason Reddick, Temple (2013-16)
Unanimous all-conference first team in 2016; first-round draft pick of Arizona Cardinals

Marcus Smith, Louisville (2013)
2013 American Defensive Player of the Year; plays for Seattle Seahawks

Linebackers
Genard Avery, Memphis (2014-17)
Two-time first team all-conference pick; league-leading 22.0 tackles for loss in 2017; plays for Cleveland Browns

Shaquem Griffin, UCF (2013-17)
2016 American Defensive Player of the Year; 2017 All-America selection; two-time first-team all-conference pick (unanimous in 2017); 2018 Peach Bowl defensive MVP; plays for Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Matakevich, Temple (2013-16)
Three-time first-team all-conference pick; 2015 American Defensive Player of the Year, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy winner and NCAA consensus All-America; three 100-tackle seasons (four overall); plays for Pittsburgh Steelers

Auggie Sanchez, USF (2013-17)
Three-time all-conference selection, including first-team honors in 2017; ranks second in career tackles (386) in conference history

Cornerbacks
Jacoby Glenn, UCF (2013-14)
2014 American Defensive Player of the Year; two-time first-team all-conference selection; led conference with seven interceptions in 2014; plays for Kansas City Chiefs

Mike Hughes, UCF (2017)
First team all-conference in 2017; scored four non-offensive touchdowns in 2017; first-round draft pick of Minnesota Vikings

Parry Nickerson, Tulane (2014-17)
Two-time all-conference selection; conference-record 16 career interceptions; plays for New York Jets

Safeties
Clayton Geathers, UCF (2013-14)
Two-time all-conference selection, including first-team pick in 2014; plays for Indianapolis Colts

Obi Melifonwu, UConn (2013-16)
First team all-conference in 2016; second in The American with 9.8 tackles per game in 2016; plays for Oakland Raiders

Kicker
Jake Elliott, Memphis (2013-16)
2014 and 2015 American Special Teams Player of the Year; 2015 All-America; four-time first-team all-conference; holds conference's career scoring record; plays for Philadelphia Eagles

Punter
Tom Hornsey, Memphis (2013)
2013 Ray Guy Award winner, Consensus All-America and American Special Teams Player of the Year

Return Specialist
Tony Pollard, Memphis (2016-present)
2017 All-America; 2016 and 2017 American Special Teams Player of the Year; led nation with four kickoff return touchdowns in 2017 and 40.0 yards per return