University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Ben Solomon
Five Tigers Named to AAC Fifth Anniversary Team
Jul 23, 2018 | Football
Memphis has five players named to AAC Fifth Anniversary Team
American Athletic Conference Fifth Anniversary Team
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis had five players named to the American Athletic Conference's Fifth Anniversary Team, including junior All-American Tony Pollard, announced by the league at media day, Monday. Pollard was joined on the team by former teammates Genard Avery, All-Americans Jake Elliott and Anthony Miller and by 2013 Ray Guy Award winner Tom Hornsey. Memphis and UCF led the league with five honorees each on the team.
Avery (2014-17) graduated from the University of Memphis in December 2017 and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns as the 150thoverall pick. A two-time first team all-conference honoree, Avery set the school single season record with 22.0 tackles for loss as a senior. In 50 career games, Avery posted 45.5 tackles for loss, second in the Tiger record book only to former NFL linebacker Tim Harris. His 21.5 sacks are third in program history and his 232 career tackles is fifth overall.
Elliott (2013-16) was a two-time AAC Special Teams Player of the Year, a 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American and was the first player in league history to earn four first-team all-conference honors. A 2015 USA Todayfirst-team All-American, Elliott led Memphis in scoring for all four seasons, posting three consecutive 100-point scoring campaigns. He was perfect on all 202 PATs in his collegiate career and broke the school's all-time scoring record with 445 points in 2016. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Elliott was signed off the Bengals' practice squad by the Philadelphia Eagles and was part of the Eagles squad that won Super Bowl LII in 2018.
Hornsey (2010-13) played one season in the American Athletic Conference, but started a Memphis domination of the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year Award that has carried through the five years of the league's existence. A four-year letterwinner at punter, the Geelong, Australia, native received the 2013 Ray Guy Award after averaging 45.2 yards, becoming the second Tiger specialist to receive a national honor (Joe Allison won the inaugural Lou Groza Award in 1992). Hornsey established Memphis career records with 297 punts and 12,815 punting yards.
Miller (2015-17) was an NCAA Consensus All-American after last season and left Memphis with virtually every school receiving record. He set single game, single season and career marks in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches. He is one of just two Memphis wide receivers to post a 1,000-yard receiving season (Isaac Bruce is the other) and is the only player in Tiger history to have passed the 1,000-yard season receiving mark twice. Drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, Miller was a two-time all-conference honoree and was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy.
Pollard is the two-time defending AAC Special Teams Player of the Year and was named a Walter Camp, Phil Steele and FWAA first team All-American as a sophomore. Last year, Pollard led the NCAA in kickoff return yards average (40.0 ypr) and shared the lead with four KOR touchdowns. Also a threat at wide receiver and running back, Pollard has returned a school record six kickoffs for touchdowns and enters his junior campaign with 3,183 all-purpose yards, third in program history.
The American Athletic Conference Media Day festivities continue Monday night with the Clam Bake and on Tuesday with media day interviews. Interviews from both days will be carried on the American Digital Network Plus on Facebook.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis had five players named to the American Athletic Conference's Fifth Anniversary Team, including junior All-American Tony Pollard, announced by the league at media day, Monday. Pollard was joined on the team by former teammates Genard Avery, All-Americans Jake Elliott and Anthony Miller and by 2013 Ray Guy Award winner Tom Hornsey. Memphis and UCF led the league with five honorees each on the team.
Avery (2014-17) graduated from the University of Memphis in December 2017 and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns as the 150thoverall pick. A two-time first team all-conference honoree, Avery set the school single season record with 22.0 tackles for loss as a senior. In 50 career games, Avery posted 45.5 tackles for loss, second in the Tiger record book only to former NFL linebacker Tim Harris. His 21.5 sacks are third in program history and his 232 career tackles is fifth overall.
Elliott (2013-16) was a two-time AAC Special Teams Player of the Year, a 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American and was the first player in league history to earn four first-team all-conference honors. A 2015 USA Todayfirst-team All-American, Elliott led Memphis in scoring for all four seasons, posting three consecutive 100-point scoring campaigns. He was perfect on all 202 PATs in his collegiate career and broke the school's all-time scoring record with 445 points in 2016. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Elliott was signed off the Bengals' practice squad by the Philadelphia Eagles and was part of the Eagles squad that won Super Bowl LII in 2018.
Hornsey (2010-13) played one season in the American Athletic Conference, but started a Memphis domination of the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year Award that has carried through the five years of the league's existence. A four-year letterwinner at punter, the Geelong, Australia, native received the 2013 Ray Guy Award after averaging 45.2 yards, becoming the second Tiger specialist to receive a national honor (Joe Allison won the inaugural Lou Groza Award in 1992). Hornsey established Memphis career records with 297 punts and 12,815 punting yards.
Miller (2015-17) was an NCAA Consensus All-American after last season and left Memphis with virtually every school receiving record. He set single game, single season and career marks in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches. He is one of just two Memphis wide receivers to post a 1,000-yard receiving season (Isaac Bruce is the other) and is the only player in Tiger history to have passed the 1,000-yard season receiving mark twice. Drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, Miller was a two-time all-conference honoree and was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy.
Pollard is the two-time defending AAC Special Teams Player of the Year and was named a Walter Camp, Phil Steele and FWAA first team All-American as a sophomore. Last year, Pollard led the NCAA in kickoff return yards average (40.0 ypr) and shared the lead with four KOR touchdowns. Also a threat at wide receiver and running back, Pollard has returned a school record six kickoffs for touchdowns and enters his junior campaign with 3,183 all-purpose yards, third in program history.
The American Athletic Conference Media Day festivities continue Monday night with the Clam Bake and on Tuesday with media day interviews. Interviews from both days will be carried on the American Digital Network Plus on Facebook.
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