Mustangs Tie Record With 18 All-AAC Selections

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Tie AAC Record With 18 All-Conference Selections

IRVING, Texas ΓÇô No. 25 SMU got some well-deserved recognition on Wednesday for its season, having 18 players selected to all of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Conference Teams in a release by the conference.

The 18 selections tied a conference record for most selections in a single year.

The Mustangs' first-team selections were Marcus Bryant, Justin Osborne, Logan Parr and RJ Maryland on offense. On defense, senior Elijah Chatman was the lone selection. Sophomore Collin Rogers was selected as the kicker.

The linemen trio of Bryant, Osborne and Parr for SMU have been dominant this year, helping lead an explosive offense that ranks in the top 10 in the country in both scoring (fourth) and total offense (ninth), while also ranking 13th in sacks allowed.

Maryland continued to elevate his game this season, posting career highs in receiving yards (462) and touchdowns (7).

Rogers found his groove this year, going 16-for-21 on field goals, including hitting a clutch 51-yarder at Rice on Nov. 4.

Making the second team were Branson Hickman and Jaylan Knighton on offense, and Elijah Roberts and Kobe Wilson on defense. Roderick Daniels Jr. earned the nod as the return specialist.

Hickman anchored the offense line this season for the Mustangs that has helped lead to its first-ever appearance in the AAC Championship game. Knighton, transfer from Miami, showcased his ability all season long, finishing with a team-high 645 rushing yards and six touchdowns. The speedy back posted two 100-yard rushing games in 2023.

Roberts made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball, causing constant pressure that resulted in a career-high 8.5 sacks, which ranks 16th in the NCAA. Kobe Wilson helped power a SMU defense that overpowered the opposition all year, leading the team in tackles with 62.

Daniels Jr. has been a valuable piece in the return game for the Mustangs this season, ranking 18th in the country in return average at 10.1 yards per return. He took back a 67-yard punt at Temple that earned him AAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors back on Oct. 23.

On the third team, SMU had Preston Stone on offense, while Jonathan McGill and Charles Woods represented the Mustangs on defense. Ryan Bujcevski earned the nod at the punter position.

Stone had a breakout season in 2023, finishing the year 3,197 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. The Dallas native was a three-time AAC Offensive Player of the Week selection this year.

McGill helped captain the defense, which ranked in the top 20 in the NCAA in multiple defensive statistics. He highlighted his season with a crucial pick-six at ECU on Oct. 12.

Bujcevski led the AAC in punting with a 45.4 average for the season, which included nine punts of at least 50 yards.

The trio of Chris Megginson, Ahmad Walker and Hyrin White received honorable mention honors.

Full list of the teams are below.

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
WR ΓÇö LaJohntay Wester ΓÇö Florida Atlantic
WR ΓÇö Luke McCaffrey ΓÇö Rice
WR ΓÇö Joshua Cephus ΓÇö UTSA
OT ΓÇö Marcus Bryant ΓÇö SMU
OT ΓÇö Cameron Wire ΓÇö Tulane
OG ΓÇö Justin Osborne ΓÇö SMU
OG ΓÇö Logan Parr ΓÇö SMU
C ΓÇö Sincere Haynesworth ΓÇö Tulane
TE ΓÇö RJ Maryland ΓÇö SMU
QB ΓÇö Frank Harris ΓÇö UTSA
QB ΓÇö Michael Pratt ΓÇö Tulane
RB ΓÇö Blake Watson ΓÇö Memphis
RB ΓÇö Makhi Hughes ΓÇö Tulane
DL ΓÇö Elijah Chatman ΓÇö SMU
DL ΓÇö Darius Hodges ΓÇö Tulane
DL ΓÇö Patrick Jenkins ΓÇö Tulane
DL ΓÇö Ben Kopenski ΓÇö Tulsa
LB ΓÇö Demetrius Knight II ΓÇö Charlotte
LB ΓÇö Colin Ramos ΓÇö Navy
LB ΓÇö Chandler Martin ΓÇö Memphis
LB ΓÇö Trey Moore ΓÇö UTSA
CB ΓÇö Kam Alexander ΓÇö UTSA
CB ΓÇö Jarius Monroe ΓÇö Tulane
S ΓÇö Julius Wood ΓÇö East Carolina
S ΓÇö Rashad Wisdom ΓÇö UTSA
K ΓÇö Collin Rogers ΓÇö SMU
P ΓÇö Riley Reithman ΓÇö Navy
RS ΓÇö LaJohntay Wester ΓÇö Florida Atlantic

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
WR ΓÇö Roc Taylor ΓÇö Memphis
WR ΓÇö Ja'Mori Maclin ΓÇö North Texas
WR ΓÇö Sean Atkins ΓÇö South Florida
OT ΓÇö Chaz Neal ΓÇö Florida Atlantic
OT ΓÇö Xavier Hill ΓÇö Memphis
OG ΓÇö Gabe Blair ΓÇö North Texas
OG ΓÇö Terrell Haynes ΓÇö UTSA
C ΓÇö Branson Hickman ΓÇö SMU
TE ΓÇö David Martin-Robinson ΓÇö Temple
QB ΓÇö Seth Henigan ΓÇö Memphis
RB ΓÇö Ayo Adeyi ΓÇö North Texas
RB ΓÇö Jaylan Knighton ΓÇö SMU
DL ΓÇö Eyabi Okie-Anoma ΓÇö Charlotte
DL ΓÇö D'Anta Johnson ΓÇö East Carolina
DL ΓÇö Jaylon Allen ΓÇö Memphis
DL ΓÇö Elijah Roberts ΓÇö SMU
LB ΓÇö Kobe Wilson ΓÇö SMU
LB ΓÇö Donyai Taylor ΓÇö UTSA
LB ΓÇö Jordan Magee ΓÇö Temple
LB ΓÇö Jesus Machado ΓÇö Tulane
CB ΓÇö Shavon Revel ΓÇö East Carolina
CB ΓÇö Lance Robinson ΓÇö Tulane
S ΓÇö Kam Pedescleaux ΓÇö Tulane
S ΓÇö Kendarin Ray H ΓÇö Tulsa
K ΓÇö Chase Allen ΓÇö UTSA
P ΓÇö Lucas Dean ΓÇö UTSA
RS ΓÇö Roderick Daniels Jr. ΓÇö SMU

ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
WR ΓÇö Tejhaun Palmer ΓÇö UAB
WR ΓÇö Chris Brazzell ΓÇö Tulane
WR ΓÇö Lawrence Keys III ΓÇö Tulane
OT ΓÇö Ernesto Almaraz ΓÇö UTSA
OT ΓÇö Rashad Green ΓÇö Tulane
OG ΓÇö Febechi Nwaiwu ΓÇö North Texas
OG ΓÇö Chester Baah ΓÇö Tulsa
C ΓÇö Jacob Likes ΓÇö Memphis
TE ΓÇö Oscar Cardenas ΓÇö UTSA
QB ΓÇö Preston Stone ΓÇö SMU
RB ΓÇö Jermaine Brown Jr. ΓÇö UAB
RB ΓÇö Anthony Watkins ΓÇö Tulsa
DL ΓÇö Evan Anderson ΓÇö Florida Atlantic
DL ΓÇö Brandon Brown ΓÇö UTSA
DL ΓÇö Joe Evans ΓÇö UTSA
DL ΓÇö Brandon Matterson ΓÇö UTSA
LB ΓÇö Nikhai Hill-Green ΓÇö Charlotte
LB ΓÇö Jeremy Lewis ΓÇö East Carolina
LB ΓÇö Jordan Brown ΓÇö North Texas
LB ΓÇö Tyler Grubbs ΓÇö Tulane
CB ΓÇö Dontae Balfour ΓÇö Charlotte
CB ΓÇö Charles Woods ΓÇö SMU
S ΓÇö Jarron Morris ΓÇö Florida Atlantic
S ΓÇö Simeon Blair ΓÇö Memphis
S ΓÇö Rayuan Lane ΓÇö Navy
S ΓÇö Jonathan McGill ΓÇö SMU
K ΓÇö Noah Rauschenberg ΓÇö North Texas
K ΓÇö Chase Meyer ΓÇö Tulsa
P ΓÇö Ryan Bujcevski ΓÇö SMU
RS ΓÇö Jha'Quan Jackson ΓÇö Tulane

ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
P ΓÇö Grant Gonya ΓÇö Charlotte
OG ΓÇö Kevin Williams Jr. ΓÇö Charlotte
DL ΓÇö Chad Stephens ΓÇö East Carolina
LB ΓÇö Geoffrey Cantin-Arku ΓÇö Memphis
LB ΓÇö Will Harbour ΓÇö Navy
CB ΓÇö Dashaun Peele ΓÇö Navy
RB ΓÇö Alex Tecza ΓÇö Navy
RB ΓÇö Dean Connors ΓÇö Rice
LB ΓÇö Myron Morrison ΓÇö Rice
DL ΓÇö Josh Pearcy ΓÇö Rice
S ΓÇö Gabriel Taylor ΓÇö Rice
CB ΓÇö Aamaris Brown-Bunkley ΓÇö South Florida
DL ΓÇö Rashad Cheney Jr. ΓÇö South Florida
OG ΓÇö Zane Herring
LB ΓÇö Jhalyn Shuler ΓÇö South Florida
CB ΓÇö Chris Megginson ΓÇö SMU
LB ΓÇö Ahmad Walker ΓÇö SMU
OT ΓÇö Hyrin White ΓÇö SMU
OG ΓÇö Cory Godinet ΓÇö UTSA
LB ΓÇö Jamal Ligon ΓÇö UTSA
LB ΓÇö Devean Deal ΓÇö Tulane
P ΓÇö Will Karoll ΓÇö Tulane
RS ΓÇö Shedro Louis ΓÇö Tulane
OT ΓÇö Darrell Simpson ΓÇö Tulsa
OG ΓÇö Wisdom Quarshie ΓÇö Temple
OT ΓÇö Victor Stoffel ΓÇö Temple

[WildHorse]

That Nwokobia didn't even make honorable mention is ridiculous. He has been a stud all year.

[PonyKris89]

UTSA QB was awful vs Tulane. Stone should be better than 3rd team.

[MiracleOnMockingbird]

I was surprised to see McGill was not even considered one of the top four safeties in the conference (not that I have studied film of the four who were ahead of him).

[Charleston Pony]

Defense was disrespected and played the championship game with a chip on their shoulders. After spotting Tulane that 1st 7 points, the D kept providing 3 and outs until Jennings and the offense took control of the 1st half. Without those 2 picks we could have had them down by 2-3 scores at half

[fan]

Absolutely absurd that Roberts and Isiah N. were not first team.
Those guys are NFL talent.
Who makes these decisions?