Moore named AAC Defensive Player of the Year, 16 Roadrunners land on all-conference teamsMoore named AAC Defensive Player of the Year, 16 Roadrunners land on all-conference teams
Football

Moore named AAC Defensive Player of the Year, 16 Roadrunners land on all-conference teams

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

-UTSA-