Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. helped put both his team and the American Athletic Conference on the map in 2015 when he threw for 2.828 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions while leading the Cougars to a 13-1 record overall. Ward is back with designs on putting up even better numbers in 2016 and there is no doubt about the role he will play in determining how far Houston will go not just within the conference but on the national stage. While he’s one of the key players for the team who enters the season as the top team in the AAC, who is key to their teams? Here is a look at the most important players for the top contenders in the AAC.
Houston: Greg Ward Jr.
Quarterback
Ward showcased his elite dual-threat ability when he for the second-most rushing yards in the entire nation by a quarterback last season. His 1,108 rushing yards pushed him to within 100 yards of reaching the 3,000-yard mark combined passing and running and he finished with a total of 38 touchdowns. Expectations will be even higher for Ward in his senior season with a very real chance to make some noise on the national stage. We’ll find out early on in the season whether Ward Jr. and the Cougars are for real or whether or not this is another small school with plenty of hype but minimal results.
Temple: P.J. Walker
Quarterback
Walker already owns the school records for touchdown passes and total offense. He is 121 passing yards short of the school record in that department as well. Walker has some decent size at 6’1’’ and 200 pounds, and he has the arm to make all of the throws. The expectation is that Walker will take another step forward in his progression in 2016. That ultimately his play could be the determining factor for whether Temple is ready to compete for an AAC championship. Remember, for a period of time last year they looked like they were very close. Maybe they can take it one step further this year if Walker can step up.
Navy: Tago Smith
Quarterback
The 5’10’’, 201-pound senior will follow in the footsteps of four-year starter Keenan Reynolds. Those shoes will be tough to fill as Reynolds was one of the most productive players in college football history. Navy fans hoping that Smith can fill the void at quarterback without missing a beat.
Smith averaged 4.7 yards per carry while rushing for 126 yards and a touchdown behind Reynolds a year ago and his dual-threat ability could make him a difficult quarterback to contain. The Midshipmen are counting on that he can thrive in a No. 1 role. There is no doubt he will be the most important player to their success in the AAC this season. This team will sink or swim depending on his performance under center. If there is any period of a learning curve and he struggles, the Midshipmen won’t be very competitive.
South Florida: Marlon Mack
Running Back
Mack ran for a school-record 1.381 yards a year ago when he led the AAC in rushing with 6.6 yards per carry. South Florida will rely on him matching those numbers in his junior season as the bowling ball in their backfield. The 6’0’’, 205-pound back can be an absolute bruiser but he does his best work in the open field where his elusiveness makes him difficult to stop.
Memphis: Doroland Dorceus
Running Back
Dorceus was the top all-around running back for Memphis a year ago and he has the potential to be even better as the clear No. 1 heading in to this season. Dorceus ran for 661 yards and eight touchdowns with another 217 receiving yards and three touchdown catches. It’s his dual-threat ability that makes him so difficult to stop. Dorceus has all of the tools to absolutely take over games at times. It was helpful to him to be playing next to quarterback Paxton Lynch last season, but remember that Lynch graduated to the NFL and became a first-round pick. That puts a bigger onus on Dorecus to deliver on offense. He will be the most important player to the Memphis offense in 2016.
