MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Ten University of Memphis football student athletes earned All-American Athletic Conference honors on Wednesday, the conference announced. Seven Tigers earned First Team All-AAC honors – the most of any team in The American.
Running back Mario Anderson Jr., wide receiver Roc Taylor, tight end Anthony Landphere and offensive lineman Xavier Hill represented the Tiger offense as First Team All-AAC honorees. On defense, linebacker Chandler Martin, defensive lineman William Whitlow Jr. and defensive back Davion Ross received First Team accolades.
Quarterback Seth Henigan and offensive linemen Jonah Gambill and Trent Holler each received Third Team All-AAC nods.
The seven first-team honorees are the most since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013 while 10 total honorees mark the most for Memphis since totaling 14 in 2019.
Anderson Jr., a senior transfer from South Carolina, headlined the First Team honorees for Memphis after becoming the ninth individual Tiger to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. The bell-cow back has logged eight 100-yard rushing games – the most in a season since Darrell Henderson (9) in 2018.
On the season, Anderson Jr. has rushed for 1,292 yards (No. 13 in FBS) and 17 touchdowns (No. 9 in FBS). His 19 total touchdowns are No. 8 in the country while his 1,596 all-purpose yards are No. 10 in FBS. The All-AAC nod is the first all-conference recognition for Anderson Jr. at the Division I level.
Taylor, a senior from Oxford, Alabama, with an active 34-game reception streak, led the Tigers in receiving for the second-straight season with 834 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 61 receptions. The Biletnikoff Award watch list honoree recorded a pair of 100-yard games and multiple receptions in every game this season.
The big-bodied receiver will finish his career top five all-time at Memphis in receptions (158) and top six in receiving yards (2,259), earning All-AAC honors for the second time in his career (Second Team; 2023).
Landphere, a redshirt senior from San Mateo, California, was named First Team All-AAC tight end after hauling in 33 passes for 379 yards and four touchdowns – good for second most on the team. Landphere recorded multiple receptions in seven games this season, including a five-catch, 66-yard performance with a touchdown in the win at Florida State. He also hauled in a pair of touchdowns on senior day in the win over UAB.
Hill, a two-year starter on the offensive line, was named First Team All-AAC offensive tackle to headline one of three offensive line selections overall for Memphis. A Second Team honoree a year ago, Hill has started every game during his two years as a Tiger.
Hill is one of the leaders on a Memphis offensive line that has paved the way for seven 200-yard rushing performances this season and over 2,000 yards on the ground. He’s helped the Tiger offense to rank third nationally in time of possession (33:48), No. 16 in first down offense (282), No. 19 in scoring offense (35.2), No. 20 in total offense (442.1), No. 25 in passing offense (268.5), and No. 47 in fewest sacks allowed (19).
Martin, a redshirt-junior linebacker from Lithonia, Georgia, was named First Team All-AAC for the second-straight season after playing at an All-American level all year long to lead a much-improved Memphis defense.
Martin ranks second nationally with four fumble recoveries and ranks second in The American with 15.0 tackles for loss (No. 14 in FBS) and 7.0 sacks (No. 39 in FBS). His 94 total tackles rank sixth in The American and No. 47 in the country. Martin was named one of 15 national semifinalists for the Butkus Award and was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season in addition to a TSWA Defensive Player of the Week Honor.
Whitlow Jr., a redshirt junior from Millbrook, Alabama, was named First Team All-AAC defensive line for the first time in his career after ranking second on the team with 4.0 sacks (No. 9 in AAC) and tied for fourth with 7.0 tackles for loss, also forcing a fumble.
Ross, a fifth-year defensive back from Warner Robins, Georgia, was named First Team All-AAC cornerback after earning honorable mention accolades in 2022. Ross had his best season as a Tiger, leading the team and ranking fifth in the conference with three interceptions and ranking 10th nationally with 14 passes defended. He broke up 11 passes to lead the Tigers, added 45 total tackles to rank sixth on the squad and forced and recovered a fumble.
The trio of defensive honorees has helped the Memphis defense to leading the country with 14 fumble recoveries, ranking second nationally in turnover margin (+16), No. 8 in turnovers gained (24), No. 13 in rushing defense (103.9), No. 14 in first-down defense (200), No. 44 in scoring defense (22.8) and No. 48 with 72.0 tackles for loss.
Henigan, the program and The American’s all-time leading passer, earned Third Team honors after ranking 11th nationally in passing yards (3,208) and completions per game (24.3), and ranking second in the AAC in completion percentage (.645). The winningest quarterback in program history also ranked No. 18 in FBS in total offense per game (278.1) and No. 21 in passing touchdowns (23).
Henigan became the AAC’s all-time passing leader, surpassing East Carolina’s Holten Ahlers, in the teams 34-24 win over No. 17 Tulane. This is the second AAC postseason award win for Henigan.
Gambill, a redshirt senior and staple on the Memphis offensive line with 41 career starts, was locked in for all 12 games at right guard to earn his first-career AAC postseason honor.
Holler, a redshirt senior and Rimington Trophy watch list nominee, started all 12 games for the Tigers at center. A transfer out of Marshall, Holler is making his first appearance on an All-AAC team.
Gambill and Holler have helped anchor a Memphis offensive line that has paved the way for seven 200-yard rushing performances this season and over 2,000 yards on the ground.
Together, they have helped the Tiger offense to rank third nationally in time of possession (33:48), No. 16 in first down offense (282), No. 19 in scoring offense (35.2), No. 20 in total offense (442.1), No. 25 in passing offense (268.5), and No. 47 in fewest sacks allowed (19).