Here’s the Full List of American Conference 2026 All-Conference Football Selections

The American Athletic Conference enters the 2026 season with a talented group of players across every position. The preseason All-Conference Team highlights the top projected performers in the league. Navy leads the list with 13 selections. Meanwhile, UTSA, Memphis, and Temple each place 12 players on the roster.

These selections focus on expected performance during the 2026 season. Past awards and career numbers matter, but the main factor is future impact. The teams are not ranked by program strength. Instead, the list recognizes the best individual players at each position.

Navy earns the most selections on the 2026 All-Conference Team. The program shows strong representation on both offense and defense. UTSA, Memphis, and Temple follow closely with deep rosters filled with experienced players.

The first, second, third, and fourth teams include top quarterbacks, playmakers, defenders, and special teams contributors. Each selection reflects a player’s ability, role, and expected production for the upcoming season.

First-Team All-Conference Selections

Instagram | owenmccown | Led by star quarterback Owen McCown, the first-team offense features standout playmakers White, McClure, and Henderson III.

UTSA quarterback Owen McCown headlines the first-team offense after entering the season as one of the conference’s top passers. The running back group includes Jahiem White (North Texas), Jamauri McClure (Tulane), and all-purpose standout Will Henderson III (UTSA).

At wide receiver, the first-team selections are Easton Messer (Florida Atlantic), JoJo Bermudez (Temple), David Amador (UTSA), and Brock Spalding (East Carolina). Temple tight end Peter Clarke earns the top spot at his position.

The offensive line features center Brady Small (Army), alongside linemen Adam Lepkowski (UAB), Cam Nichols (Navy), Eric King (Temple), and Vincent Fiacable (Florida Atlantic).

Defensively, the first-team defensive line includes J’Mond Tapp (Memphis), CJ Doggette Jr. (Florida Atlantic), Jack Bousum (Army), and Jasiyah Robinson (East Carolina). The linebacker unit consists of MarcAnthony Parker (Navy), Leon Hart (Florida Atlantic), Curly Ordonez (Temple), and Mike Montgomery (Memphis).

The secondary is led by Elijah Green (Tulsa), Zach Williams (Tulsa), Jack Tchienchou (Tulane), and Ian Foster (Memphis). Specialists include kicker Nico Gramatica (South Florida), punter Caile Hogan (UTSA), kick returner Jaylin Lucas (Tulane), and punt returner Easton Messer (Florida Atlantic).

Second-Team All-Conference Selections

Instagram | calehellums | Army’s Cale Hellums leads a second-team backfield featuring Quinton Jackson (Rice), Ashton Gray (ECU), and Trequan Jones (Tulsa).

Army quarterback Cale Hellums leads the second team, while the running backs are Quinton Jackson (Rice), Ashton Gray (East Carolina), and all-purpose player Trequan Jones (Tulsa).

The receiving unit includes Jaden Barnes (Charlotte), Anthony Brown-Stephens (Tulane), AJ Wilson (UTSA), and Corri Milliner (North Texas). Hunter Tipton (Memphis) earns the second-team tight end spot.

The offensive line features Brandon Best (East Carolina), Paolo Gennarelli (Army), Caleb Cook (South Florida), Giakoby Hills (Temple), and Malcolm Johnson (Navy).

Defensive selections include Kyran Duhon (Tulsa), Griffen Willis (Navy), CJ Hicks (South Florida), Kody Harris-Miller (Army), and Kendrick DuJour (East Carolina). Linebackers are Chris Rodgers, Dickson Agu (both Tulane), Coleman Cauley (Navy), and Grayson Howard (South Florida).

The defensive backs are Devin Robinson (Tulsa), Tavin Ward (South Florida), Ahmere Foster (Memphis), Jaydan Mayes (Army), Daveon Hook (Rice), and Caden Jenkins (North Texas). Specialists include Dominic De Freitas (North Texas), Dante Atton (Temple), Henry Rutledge (Charlotte), and JoJo Bermudez (Temple).

Third-Team All-Conference Selections

Instagram | crveltkamp | Third-team honors go to FAU QB Caden Veltkamp and running backs from Temple, Army, and UAB.

Florida Atlantic’s Caden Veltkamp takes the third-team quarterback position. The running backs are Sam Brown V (Temple), Godspower Nwawuihe (Army), and Rod Robinson II (UAB).

The receiving corps consists of Bryson Rodgers (South Florida), Landon Sides (East Carolina), Dominique Henry (Florida Atlantic), and Tychaun Chapman (Memphis). Tight end honors go to Wyatt Sullivan (South Florida).

The offensive line includes Grayson Mains (Temple), Cam East (Tulsa), Reese Baker (Tulane), Darrell Jones (UTSA), Maarten Woudsma (Memphis), Luke Miller (Rice), and Neto Umeozulu (North Texas).

Defensive selections feature Tai Leonard (UTSA), Tai Newhouse (Tulsa), Ed Smith IV (Tulane), Jaden McKinney (Memphis), and Jay Crable (Florida Atlantic). The linebacker group includes Kadin Schmitz (Charlotte), Owen Pewee (UTSA), Jesus Machado Jr. (Rice), DJ Johnson Jr. (East Carolina), and Aaron Alexander (North Texas).

The defensive backs are E’Zaiah Shine (Tulane), Phillip Hamilton (Navy), Chauncey Logan Jr. (Memphis), Giuseppe Sessi (Navy), and Ayden Jackson (South Florida). Specialists include Jonah Delange (UAB), James Wagenseller (Army), Ian Foster (Memphis), and Jaden Barnes (Charlotte).

Fourth-Team All-Conference Selections

Instagram | bwoodson5 | Navy QB Braxton Woodson and RBs Crowther, Listorti, and Shields-Dutton earn fourth-team honors.

Navy quarterback Braxton Woodson headlines the fourth team. The running back selections are D.J. Crowther (South Florida), Vic Listorti (Navy), and Kaden Shields-Dutton (Florida Atlantic).

The wide receiver group features Luke Hutchison (Navy), Kaleb Brown (UAB), David Wells Jr. (Tulsa), Brady Anderson (Army), and Terrell Timmons Jr. (Memphis). Gus McGee (Charlotte) earns the tight end selection.

The offensive line includes Ben Rios (UTSA), Thomas Shrader (South Florida), Calib Perez (UAB), Hayes Creel (East Carolina), Chandler Strong (North Texas), Jackson Pruitt (Temple), and Jaylen Garth (UTSA).

On defense, the fourth-team defensive line consists of Dillan Botts (Rice), Marlin Dean (UAB), Jaylon Joseph (Temple), Rion Roseborough (East Carolina), and Derrick Shepard Jr. (Tulane). Linebackers include Ike Esonwune (UAB), Joseph Sipp Jr. (Florida Atlantic), Brandon Tucker (UTSA), Zakye Barker (North Texas), and Eric Stuart (Temple).

The secondary features Dylan Smith (Memphis), Ashton Levells-Mitchell (East Carolina), Damarius McGhee (Florida Atlantic), Kevon Merrell (East Carolina), Collin Gill (Charlotte), and Irabonoise Oniha (Navy). Special teams selections are Michael Petro (UTSA), Jacob Carlson (Navy), Isaiah Bryant (Navy), and Alvon Isaac (South Florida).

The 2026 preseason All-Conference Team reflects the conference’s depth across every position. Navy leads the way with the most selections, while UTSA, Memphis, and Temple remain close behind with equally impressive representation. The roster combines proven veterans with rising contributors expected to shape the conference race throughout the 2026 college football season, making this preseason list a valuable snapshot of the AAC’s top projected performers.