Preseason All-American Athletic Conference Football Selections 2022: Cincinnati, Houston, & UCF

It's a three-team race to dominate the American Athletic Conference.

We’ve already created 2022 Preseason College Football All-Conference Teams for every program in the Power Five. Today begins our journey into Group of Five territory as we tackle the American Athletic Conference (AAC), which put the Cincinnati Bearcats into the College Football Playoff this past season.

As a quick refresher, let’s cover some rules that govern these teams. There are 13 available slots on offense and 11 on defense. One of the offense spots labeled “All-Purpose” is available for running backs, tight ends, or wide receivers and doesn’t prevent the selected player from appearing on a later team. These teams were built predictively for the college season and have nothing to do with a player’s NFL Draft projection.

Check out the links below to see our previous All-Conference Teams.

All-Big 12 Team l All-Pac-12 Team l All-Big Ten Team l All-ACC Team l All-SEC Team

Feel free to leave any questions or feedback in the comments, or you can reach me on Twitter @Sam_Teets33. I do my best to respond to everyone, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

First Team Offense

Quarterback: Clayton Tune, Houston

Running Back: Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina

Running Back: Tyjae Spears, Tulane

Wide Receiver: Nathaniel Dell, Houston

Wide Receiver: Ryan O'Keefe, UCF

Wide Receiver: Nick Mardner, Cincinnati

Tight End: Kemore Gamble, UCF

All-Purpose: Johnny Richardson, UCF (RB)

Offensive Tackle: Patrick Paul, Houston

Offensive Tackle: Isaac Moore, Temple

Guard: Lorenz Metz, Cincinnati

Guard: Demetris Harris, USF

Center: Matthew Lee, UCF

First Team Defense

Defensive End: Derek Parish, Houston

Defensive End: Anthony Goodlow, Tulsa

Defensive Tackle: Elijah Chatman, SMU

Defensive Tackle: Atlias Bell, Houston

Linebacker: Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati

Linebacker: Deshawn Pace, Cincinnati

Linebacker: Donavan Mutin, Houston

Cornerback: Davonte Brown, UCF

Cornerback: Corey Thornton, UCF

Safety: Quindell Johnson, Memphis

Safety: Ja'von Hicks, Cincinnati

To no one’s surprise, Houston (six), UCF (six), and Cincinnati (five) are the most represented programs on the AAC First Team. Those three programs have experienced successful stretches over the past decade and are known for producing several NFL prospects each year.

Luke Fickell’s Bearcats dominated the actual AAC First Team in 2021, taking home 12 of the 25 spots (not counting special teams). However, only two First Team Bearcats from 2021 (guard Lorenz Metz and center Jake Renfro) are back for 2022. That opens the door for programs like Houston and UCF to gain ground on the All-Conference board.

The losses of Jerome Ford, Alec Pierce, and Desmond Ridder open the door for players like Ryan O'Keefe, Johnny Richardson, and Clayton Tune to capture more headlines in 2022.

Outside of Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF, no AAC team had multiple players earn First Team honors. East Carolina, Memphis, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, and USF all put one player through. Meanwhile, Navy was the only program to get shut out on the First Team.

Ivan Pace Jr. is one of the more exciting players to appear early in this exercise. He’s one of several transfers from Miami (OH) who found new homes at better programs this spring. In 2021, Pace amassed 125 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 21 pressures, and four sacks. His new running mate, Deshawn Pace, produced 95 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and four interceptions last season.

I’d also keep an eye on Houston’s Nathaniel Dell. The wide receiver earned First Team All-AAC honors last season after snagging 90 receptions for 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was Tune’s favorite target by far as no other Cougar topped 40 receptions or 500 receiving yards.

UCF’s O'Keefe and Cincinnati’s Nick Mardner also have interesting profiles. O'Keefe was an All-AAC Second Team selection in 2021 when he caught 84 passes for 812 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he also carried the ball 16 times for 274 more yards and a score, taking him over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Memphis’ Calvin Austin III, Dell, and Tulsa’s Josh Johnson were the only AAC wide receivers with more yards from scrimmage in 2021 than O'Keefe.

Meanwhile, Mardner is a transfer from Hawaii listed at 6' 6", 190 lbs. He finished fifth in the Mountain West Conference with 913 receiving yards last season, trailing Romeo Doubs, Trey McBride, Khalil Shakir, and Deven Thompkins.

Second Team Offense

Quarterback: Tanner Mordecai, SMU

Running Back: Corey Kiner, Cincinnati

Running Back: Johnny Richardson, UCF

Wide Receiver: Xavier Weaver, USF

Wide Receiver: Rashee Rice, SMU

Wide Receiver: Kobe Hudson, UCF

Tight End: Josh Whyle, Cincinnati

All-Purpose: Ta'Zhawn Henry, Houston (RB)

Offensive Tackle: Donovan Jennings, USF

Offensive Tackle: James Tunstall, Cincinnati

Guard: Jeremy Cooper, Cincinnati

Guard: Lokahi Pauole, UCF

Center: Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane

Second Team Defense

Defensive End: DeVere Levelston, SMU

Defensive End: Turner Coxe, SMU

Defensive Tackle: Joseph Anderson, Tulsa

Defensive Tackle: Ricky Barber, UCF

Linebacker: Ty Van Fossen, Cincinnati

Linebacker: Nick Anderson, Tulane

Linebacker: Dwayne Boyles, USF

Cornerback: Alex Hogan, Houston

Cornerback: Malik Fleming, East Carolina

Safety: Gervarrius Owens, Houston

Safety: Macon Clark, Tulane

The AAC Second Team was more diverse than the First Team. Six programs had multiple players selected. Cincinnati led the way by claiming five spots. SMU and UCF tied for second with four, while Houston, Tulane, and USF had three players chosen. East Carolina and Tulsa got on the board with one apiece, while Memphis, Navy, and Temple went home empty-handed.

The decline in talent from the First to Second Team highlights the gap between the Group of Five and Power Five as conferences. The Big 12, which is easily the least talented of the Power Five conferences right now, had several possible future first round picks on its Second Team. Unfortunately, the AAC doesn’t have the depth to match that high-end talent.

However, there are still plenty of intriguing players on the AAC Second Team. Kobe Hudson was a four-star recruit in 2020 and led Auburn in receptions (44), receiving yards (580), and receiving touchdowns (four) last season before being dismissed from the program.

Other notable Second Team selections include Josh Whyle, Ta'Zhawn Henry, and four-star LSU transfer Corey Kiner. Whyle is a gifted and productive tight end who has battled injuries over the past few years. Meanwhile, Henry will start for Houston in place of the injured Alton McCaskill. His touches will spike this year. Kiner should also have a career year after rushing for 324 yards as a true freshman at LSU in 2021.

Third Team Offense

Quarterback: Seth Henigan, Memphis

Running Back: Jaren Mangham, USF

Running Back: Ta'Zhawn Henry, Houston

Wide Receiver: Keylon Stokes, Tulsa

Wide Receiver: Jimmy Horn Jr., USF

Wide Receiver: JuanCarlos (JC) Santana, Tulsa

Tight End: Tyrick James, Tulane

All-Purpose: Rahjai Harris, East Carolina (RB)

Offensive Tackle: Ryan Swoboda, UCF

Offensive Tackle: Kip Frankland, Navy

Guard: Cam'Ron Johnson, Houston

Guard: Samuel Jackson, UCF

Center: Jake Renfro, C Cincinnati

Third Team Defense

Defensive End: D'Anthony Jones, Houston

Defensive End: Darius Hodges, Tulane

Defensive Tackle: Adonis Friloux, Tulane

Defensive Tackle: Shaundre Mims, East Carolina

Linebacker: Jimmy Phillips Jr., SMU

Linebacker: Justin Wright, Tulsa

Linebacker: Terrence Lewis, UCF

Cornerback: Jadon Canady, Tulane

Cornerback: Cameron Ruiz, Temple

Safety: Divaad Wilson, UCF

Safety: Quadric Bullard, UCF

The Third Team was the most diverse AAC squad. Every team had at least one player appear, including the Navy Midshipmen. Offensive tackle Kip Frankland was the only Navy player selected to the AAC Teams, and he barely slipped in ahead of some talented transfers. Memphis, Navy, SMU, and Temple were the other programs with only one player named to the Third Team.

UCF led the Third Team with five selections. Tulane (four), Houston (three), Tulsa (three), East Carolina (two), and USF (two) were the other programs with multiple selections.

Notable players on the Third Team include 2021 AAC First Team selection Jake Renfro, 2021 Second Teamer Divaad Wilson, rising sophomore Jimmy Horn Jr., redshirt sophomore Adonis Friloux, and Shaundre Mims. Mims is a transfer from Charleston Southern who was the 2021 HERO Sports Top Returning Big South Defensive Lineman. He produced ten sacks in 2019 and eight in 2021.

It’s time to tally the total number of selections for each team. Remember, some players appeared twice because of the all-purpose slot. Those players will be counted twice in this final poll.

Surprisingly, Cincinnati isn’t projected to be the most talented team in the AAC next year. UCF outpaced its competition with 15 selections. Houston finished second with 12 nominations, while Cincinnati rounded out the top three with 11 selections. Tulane claimed fourth with eight players, followed by SMU and USF tied at six.

Tulsa (five), East Carolina (four), Memphis (two), Temple (two), and Navy (one) brought up the rear. I was surprised to see Memphis this far down the board, considering some of the program’s recent NFL products like Calvin Austin III, Kenny Gainwell, and Antonio Gibson. However, you might see more Memphis players in the honorable mentions below.

Honorable Mentions Offense

Holton Ahlers, QB East Carolina

Ben Bryant, QB Cincinnati

D'Wan Mathis, QB Temple

Evan Prater, QB Cincinnati

Michael Pratt, QB Tulane

Cameron Carroll, Tulane

Alton McCaskill, RB Houston (torn ACL in April)

Deneric Prince, RB Tulsa

Brandon Thomas, RB Memphis

Anthony Watkins, Tulsa

Camar Wheaton, RB SMU

David Martin-Robinson, TE Temple

Christian Trahan, TE Houston

Javon Baker, WR UCF

Matthew Golden, WR Houston

Jaylen Johnson, WR East Carolina

Joseph Scates, WR Memphis

Tylan Grable, OT UCF

Tyler Johnson, OT Houston

Parker Moorer, OT East Carolina

Lance Robinson, OT Houston

Brad Cecil, C USF

Jacob Likes, C Memphis

Kody Russey, C Houston

Honorable Mentions Defense

Clay Cromwell, IDL Navy

Nelson Ceaser, EDGE Houston

Josh Celiscar, EDGE UCF

Wardalis Ducksworth, EDGE Memphis

Jeremy Lewis, EDGE East Carolina

Tre'mon Morris-Brash, EDGE UCF

Jabari Taylor, EDGE Cincinnati

Malik Vann, EDGE Cincinnati

Darian Varner, EDGE Temple

Gary Wiley, EDGE SMU

Geoff Cantin-Arku, LB Memphis

Xavier Cullens, LB Memphis

Tyler Murray, LB Memphis

Grant Sawyer, LB Tulsa

Art Green, CB Houston

Mekhi Lapointe, S USF

Jaise Oliver, S Tulsa

Rodney Owens, S Memphis

Teagan Wilk, S East Carolina

Jireh Wilson, S East Carolina