The University of Cincinnati football team may be without a head coach, but it has two of the top players in the American Athletic Conference.
The conference announced Wednesday that senior linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, while sophomore punter Mason Fletcher is the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
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Pace is the second straight Cincinnati player to win the conference's top defensive award, joining cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner who was the unanimous choice last season. Gardner, who now plays for the New York Jets, went on to be the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Pace, a former standout at Colerain High School, led the AAC in tackles (120) and tackles for loss (19.5) and ranked second in sacks (nine). The Miami University transfer is a finalist for both the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker, and the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top overall defensive player.
Fletcher was named the conference's top special teams performer after ranking fourth nationally in punting average (46.7). He set the AAC record with an 84-yard punt at Southern Methodist earlier this season.
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Fletcher, who is the first Cincinnati player to win AAC Special Teams Player of the Year, is a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, given each year to the best punter in college football.
The winners of the Butkus, Bednarik, Guy and other awards will be announced at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 during ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Former Bearcats cornerback Coby Bryant (Seattle Seahawks) won the Jim Thorpe Award (nation's top defensive back) during last year's show. Former Cincinnati linebacker Darrian Beavers (New York Giants) was a finalist for the Butkus Award a season ago.
Pace and Fletcher are two of 10 Bearcats who earned spots on the 2022 all-conference teams also announced Monday. Pace, Fletcher, senior tight end Josh Whyle (La Salle HIgh School), senior defensive lineman Jowon Briggs (Walnut HIlls), freshman defensive lineman Dontay Corleone (Colerain) and senior cornerback Ja'Quan Sheppard all earned first-team All-AAC selections. Junior wide receiver Tyler Scott, senior offensive lineman James Tunstall, senior safety Ja'Von Hicks (Colerain) and senior kicker Ryan Coe each earned a second-team nod.
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Senior cornerback Arquon Bush, sophomore offensive lineman Joe Huber and senior offensive lineman Dylan O'Quinn received All-AAC honorable mentions.
The AAC announced its postseason accolades three days after Luke Fickell informed Cincinnati he was vacating his position as head football coach and taking over at Wisconsin. Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Tressel also was named the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year on Tuesday. Fickell's Bearcats (9-3, 6-2) ended the regular season with a 27-24 loss to Tulane on Friday. The defeat snapped Cincinnati's program-record 32-game winning streak at Nippert Stadium.
Bearcats cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs will serve as interim head coach as Cincinnati Director of Athletics John Cunningham works to find a replacement for Fickell, and the Bearcats await to see which bowl game will put a period on their 2022-23 season, their last before joining the Big 12 Conference.
The University of Cincinnati football team may be without a head coach, but it has two of the top players in the American Athletic Conference.
The conference announced Wednesday that senior linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, while sophomore punter Mason Fletcher is the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
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Pace is the second straight Cincinnati player to win the conference's top defensive award, joining cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner who was the unanimous choice last season. Gardner, who now plays for the New York Jets, went on to be the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Pace, a former standout at Colerain High School, led the AAC in tackles (120) and tackles for loss (19.5) and ranked second in sacks (nine). The Miami University transfer is a finalist for both the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker, and the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top overall defensive player.
Fletcher was named the conference's top special teams performer after ranking fourth nationally in punting average (46.7). He set the AAC record with an 84-yard punt at Southern Methodist earlier this season.
Cincinnati Bearcats football:Cincinnati kicker Coe, punter Fletcher turning into not-so-secret weapons for Bearcats
Fletcher, who is the first Cincinnati player to win AAC Special Teams Player of the Year, is a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, given each year to the best punter in college football.
The winners of the Butkus, Bednarik, Guy and other awards will be announced at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 during ESPN's The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Former Bearcats cornerback Coby Bryant (Seattle Seahawks) won the Jim Thorpe Award (nation's top defensive back) during last year's show. Former Cincinnati linebacker Darrian Beavers (New York Giants) was a finalist for the Butkus Award a season ago.
Pace and Fletcher are two of 10 Bearcats who earned spots on the 2022 all-conference teams also announced Monday. Pace, Fletcher, senior tight end Josh Whyle (La Salle HIgh School), senior defensive lineman Jowon Briggs (Walnut HIlls), freshman defensive lineman Dontay Corleone (Colerain) and senior cornerback Ja'Quan Sheppard all earned first-team All-AAC selections. Junior wide receiver Tyler Scott, senior offensive lineman James Tunstall, senior safety Ja'Von Hicks (Colerain) and senior kicker Ryan Coe each earned a second-team nod.
Cincinnati Bearcats football:'Younger guys' having immediate impact on Cincinnati Bearcats' defensive line
Senior cornerback Arquon Bush, sophomore offensive lineman Joe Huber and senior offensive lineman Dylan O'Quinn received All-AAC honorable mentions.
The AAC announced its postseason accolades three days after Luke Fickell informed Cincinnati he was vacating his position as head football coach and taking over at Wisconsin. Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Tressel also was named the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year on Tuesday. Fickell's Bearcats (9-3, 6-2) ended the regular season with a 27-24 loss to Tulane on Friday. The defeat snapped Cincinnati's program-record 32-game winning streak at Nippert Stadium.
Bearcats cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs will serve as interim head coach as Cincinnati Director of Athletics John Cunningham works to find a replacement for Fickell, and the Bearcats await to see which bowl game will put a period on their 2022-23 season, their last before joining the Big 12 Conference.
