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IRVING, Texas – Student-athletes from Navy, North Texas and Tulane claimed major individual awards as the American Conference announced its 2025 players of the year and all-conference selections as chosen by the league’s 14 head coaches.
North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker was chosen as the American’s Offensive Player of the Year, while his teammate running back Caleb Hawkins was picked as the Rookie of the Year. The Navy duo of defensive lineman Landon Robinson and deep snapper Rayne Fry were named Defensive Player of the Year and Deep Snapper of the Year. Tulane kicker Patrick Durkin was named the Special Teams Player of the Year. North Texas head coach Eric Morris was named by his peers as Coach of the Year.
Mestemaker leads FBS with 3,835 passing yards and has thrown 29 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He broke the American’s single-game record with 608 passing yards at Charlotte on October 24. The redshirt freshman ranks third in the nation in passing efficiency (178.2), fourth in passing touchdowns (29), fourth in total offense (324.3 yards per game), ninth in completion percentage (70.9 percent).
Robinson leads the American with 0.59 sacks per game with 6.5 sacks in 11 games. The senior has 54 tackles on the campaign and becomes the first Midshipman to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Durkin is 22-of-24 on field goals and 36-of-37 on PATs for the season. His field goal percentage of 92.3 percent is ninth in FBS and his total points of 102 ranks 15th in FBS. Durkin is the first Tulane player to earn the Special Teams Player of the Year.
Fry earned the American’s first Deep Snapper of the Year honor as the Midshipmen did not allow a kick or punt block all season.
Hawkins leads FBS with 23 rushing touchdowns, 26 total touchdowns and 156 total points scored. His total touchdowns and 156 total points rank second on the American’s single-season list. He is third in FBS in all-purpose yards (140.9 per game), is 13th in rushing yards with 1,216 and is 16th in yards per carry (6.3). Hawkins was the lone player to be unanimously selected to the all-conference first team.
Morris has led North Texas to an 11-1 record in the regular season and a 7-1 record in American play. The Mean Green have the highest scoring offense in FBS with 46.8 points per game and also lead the country in total offense with 511.8 yards per game. North Texas is fourth in FBS in turnover margin at +1.08 per game and is 10th in passing yards allowed at 164.7 per contest.
In addition to the major award winners, the American also named its first, second, third and honorable mention all-conference teams. Four players were repeat selections from the 2024 first team – Robinson, Army center Brady Small, Memphis defensive lineman William Whitlow Jr. and Tulane offensive guard Shadre Hurst.
Offensive Player of the Year
QB
Drew Mestemaker
North Texas
Defensive Player of the Year
DL
Landon Robinson
Navy
Special Teams Player of the Year
K
Patrick Durkin
Tulane
Deep Snapper of the Year
DS
Rayne Fry
Navy
Rookie of the Year
RB
Caleb Hawkins
North Texas
Coach of the Year
Eric Morris, North Texas
All-Conference First Team
WR
Anthony Smith
East Carolina
WR
Cortez Braham Jr.
Memphis
WR
Wyatt Young
North Texas
OT
Jimarion McCrimmon
East Carolina
OT
Travis Burke
Memphis
OG
Gabe Blair
North Texas
OG
Shadre Hurst
Tulane
C
Brady Small
Army
TE
Brody Foley
Tulsa
QB
Drew Mestemaker
North Texas
RB
Caleb Hawkins*
North Texas
RB
Robert Henry Jr.
UTSA
DL
Zion Wilson
East Carolina
DL
William Whitlow Jr.
Memphis
DL
Landon Robinson
Navy
DL
Santana Hopper
Tulane
LB
Sam Brumfield
Memphis
LB
Mac Harris
South Florida
LB
Shad Banks Jr.
UTSA
LB
Ray Coney
Tulsa
CB
DeShawn Rucker
South Florida
CB
Elijah Green
Tulsa
S
Jack Tchienchou
Tulane
S
Ja’Marley Riddle
East Carolina
K
Patrick Durkin
Tulane
P
Alec Clark
Tulane
RS
Sutton Smith
Memphis
DS
Jackson Lee
Florida Atlantic
DS
Rayne Fry
Navy
All-Conference Second Team
WR
Iverson Hooks
UAB
WR
Easton Messer
Florida Atlantic
WR
Eli Heidenreich
Navy
OT
Braydon Nelson
North Texas
OT
Connor McLaughlin
South Florida
OG
Emmanuel Poku
East Carolina
OG
Ben Purvis
Navy
C
Tay Yanta
North Texas
TE
Peter Clarke
Temple
QB
Byrum Brown
South Florida
RB
Alex Tecza
Navy
RB
Dominic Richardson
Tulsa
DL
JD Lampley
East Carolina
DL
Cam’Ron Stewart
Temple
DL
Tre’von Mcalpine
Tulane
DL
J’Dan Burnett
Tulsa
LB
Andon Thomas
Army
LB
Ethan Wesloski
North Texas
LB
Jhalyn Shuler
South Florida
LB
Sam Howard
Tulane
CB
Omarion Cooper
Memphis
CB
David Fisher
North Texas
S
Fred Gaskin
South Florida
S
Lento Smith Jr.
Tulsa
K
Nico Gramatica
South Florida
P
Caile Hogan
UTSA
RS
JoJo Bermudez
Temple
DS
Triston O’Brien
East Carolina
All-Conference Third Team
WR
Javen Nicholas
Charlotte
WR
Yannick Smith
East Carolina
WR
Devin McCuin
UTSA
OT
Jimto Obidegwu
North Texas
OT
Derrick Graham
Tulane
OG
Johnny Dickson
North Texas
OG
Zane Herring
South Florida
C
Cole Best
South Florida
TE
Houston Thomas
UTSA
QB
Blake Horvath
Navy
RB
Sutton Smith
Memphis
RB
Quinton Jackson
Rice
DL
Jack Bousum
Army
DL
CJ Doggette Jr.
Florida Atlantic
DL
Pooda Walker
Memphis
DL
Tony Anyanwu
Rice
DL
Josh Celiscar
South Florida
LB
Dameon Wilson
East Carolina
LB
Leon Hart Jr.
Florida Atlantic
LB
MarcAnthony Parker
Navy
LB
Trey Fields
North Texas
LB
Andrew Awe
Rice
LB
Harvey Dyson
Tulane
CB
Ben Osueke
Temple
CB
Javion White
Tulane
S
Will Jones
North Texas
S
Jimmy Wyrick
UTSA
K
Gianni Spetic
Memphis
P
Alex Bacchetta
Rice
RS
Solomon Beebe
UAB
RS
TJ Smith
Tulane
DS
Jason Arredondo
Tulane
Honorable Mention
RB
Nykahi Davenport
South Florida
LB
Ty Morris
Rice
LB
Curly Ordonez
Temple
CB
Jahiem Johnson
Tulane
S
Casey Larkin
Army
* denotes unanimous first-team selection
