Cleveland, Ohio – A total of 29 repeat selections from last year’s All-MAC team highlights this year’s postseason football awards in the Mid-American Conference.

 

Northern Illinois junior quarterback Jordan Lynch (Chicago, Ill.) was tabbed as the winner of the 31st Vern Smith Leadership Award, as voted on by the conference head coaches.  The award is presented annually to the conference’s top football player in honor of Vern Smith, the former University of Toledo Athletic Director.  

 

Lynch led the Huskies to a perfect 8-0 conference record, 11-1 overall, and No. 21 in the BCS Rankings, No. 18 ranking in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Lynch rushed for 1,611 yards and 16 touchdowns, threw for 2,750 yards and 23 touchdowns for 4,361 yards of total offense (363.2 ypg).  Lynch became the first player in FBS history to pass for more than 400 yards and rush for more than 150 in a game (vs. Toledo, 11/14), the second player ever to pass for more than 2,500 and run for more than 1,500 yards in a season and holds the NCAA record for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback (9).

 

In other awards, Kent State Head Coach Darrell Hazell was named as the MAC Head Coach of the Year, whileNorthern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch was honored as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year.  Bowling Green defensive tackle Chris Jones was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Kent State kick returner Dri Archer was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year and Western Michigan freshman wide receiver Jaime Wilson was named MAC Freshman of the Year.

 

Hazell, in his second year as head coach of Kent State, orchestrated a dramatic turnaround for the Flashes program by claiming the program’s first MAC East Division title with a perfect 8-0 record, including 11-1 overall.  Kent State is ranked No. 17 in the BCS Standings, No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.  Kent State’s 10- game winning streak is the longest in program history and the 11 wins are also most in school history.  

 

Lynch, a first year starter at quarterback for the Huskies, ranks third in the nation in total offense, fifth in the country in rushing, eighth in points responsible for and 12th in passing efficiency.  Lynch led a Huskies team that has won 11 consecutive games, eight consecutive road games, 16 consecutive conference games and 21 consecutive home games.

 

Jones, a native of Brownsburg, Ind., was part of a Bowling Green team that finished 8-4 overall, 6-2 in conference play.  Jones collected 41 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.  Jones led the MAC with 12.5 sacks and ranked and tied for third in the nation, while his 19 tackles for loss ranked second in the conference and tied for seventh in the country.

 

Archer, a native of Laurel, Fla., totaled 16 kickoff returns for 573 yards for a stunning 38.2 kickoff return average with three returns for touchdowns.  Archer led the nation with his three returns for scores, including a long of 99 yards, and his 38.2 average also was best in the country.

 

Wilson, a native of Bella Glade, Fla., led the Broncos with 67 receptions for 792 yards (11.8 avg.) and six touchdowns.  Wilson played in ten games and averaged 79.2 yard receiving per contest.  Wilson ranked fourth in the MAC with an average of 6.7 receptions per game and sixth in the conference with an average of 79.2 yards per game.

 

Toledo led the way with six first team selections, followed by Northern Illinois and Ball State with five first team selections.  Overall, Ball State set the pace with 15 honorees, followed by Toledo with 11 honorees, while Kent State and Bowling Green added ten honorees. 

 

Kent State featured junior DL Roosevelt Nix represented for his third consecutive first-team All-MAC selection.  Nix has garnered first team accolades since his freshman year in 2010 and has consistently been a force along the Kent State defensive line.

 

There were a total of four student-athletes named to their second consecutive first team selection:  LB Khalil Mack (Buffalo), DL Chris Jones (Bowling Green), DL Roosevelt Nix (Kent State) and DB Dayonne Nunley (Miami).

 

 

Quarterback – Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois

Center – Zac Kerin, Toledo +

Offensive Linemen – Brian Winters, Kent State +%

Offensive Lineman – Eric Fisher, Central Michigan !

Offensive Lineman – Dann O’Neill, Western Michigan !

Offensive Linemen – Austin Holtz, Ball State

Tight End – Zane Fakes, Ball State

Wide Receiver – Martel Moore, Northern Illinois

Wide Receiver – Bernard Reedy, Toledo

Wide Receiver – Willie Snead, Ball State

Wide Receiver – Jamill Smith, Ball State

Running Back – Dri Archer, Kent State

Running Back – David Fluellen, Toledo

Placekicker – Steven Schott, Ball State

 

Outside Linebacker – Khalil Mack, Buffalo &

Outside Linebacker –Gabe Martin, Bowling Green

Inside Linebacker – Dan Molls, Toledo

Inside Linebacker – Perry McIntyre, UMass

Down Lineman – Chris Jones, Bowling Green %&

Down Lineman – Roosevelt Nix, Kent State @&

Down Lineman – Sean Progar, Northern Illinois @+

Down Lineman – Alan Baxter, Northern Illinois

Defensive Back – Jimmy Ward, Northern Illinois +

Defensive Back – Dayonne Nunley, Miami &

Defensive Back – BooBoo Gates, Bowling Green

Defensive Back – Jermaine Robinson, Toledo

Punter – Jay Karutz, Eastern Michigan

 

Kickoff Return Specialist – Dri Archer, Kent State

Punt Return Specialist –Bernard Reedy, Toledo

 

 

Quarterback – Keith Wenning, Ball State

Center – Skyler Allen, Ohio

Offensive Lineman – Eric Herman, Ohio +

Offensive Lineman – Josh Kline, Kent State

Offensive Lineman – Tyler Loos, Northern Illinois

Offensive Lineman – Jordan Roussos, Bowling Green

Tight End – Garrett Hoskins, Eastern Michigan !

Wide Receiver – Nick Harwell, Miami #&

Wide Receiver – Alex Neutz, Buffalo

Wide Receiver – Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan

Wide Receiver – Titus Davis, Central Michigan !

Running Back – Beau Blankenship, Ohio

Running Back – Zurlon Tipton, Central Michigan

Placekicker – Matt Weller, Ohio ^+

 

Outside Linebacker – Tyrone Clark, Northern Illinois

Outside Linebacker – Justin Cudworth, Eastern Michigan !

Inside Linebacker – Travis Freeman, Ball State +

Inside Linebacker – Luke Batton, Kent State !

Down Lineman – Jonathon Newsome, Ball State

Down Lineman – Freddie Bishop, Western Michigan !

Down Lineman – Steven Means, Buffalo

Down Lineman – Andy Mulumba, Eastern Michigan

Defensive Back – Jahleel Addae, Central Michigan %&

Defensive Back – Luke Wollet, Kent State !

Defensive Back – Darren Thellen, UMass

Defensive Back – Justin Currie, Western Michigan

Punter – Brian Schmiedebusch, Bowling Green &

 

Kickoff Return Specialist – Bernard Reedy, Toledo

Punt Return Specialist – Jaime Wilson, Western Michigan

 

 

Quarterback – Zac Dysert, Miami

Center – Kevin Galeher, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Greg Mancz, Toledo

Offensive Lineman – Dominic Flewellyn, Bowling Green

Offensive Lineman – Jordan Hansel, Ball State +

Offensive Lineman – Cam Lowry, Ball State

Tight End – Alex Bayer, Bowling Green

Wide Receiver – Marquelo Suel, Akron

Wide Receiver – Andy Cruse, Miami

Wide Receiver – Cody Wilson, Central Michigan #!

Wide Receiver – Alonzo Russell, Toledo

Running Back – Jahwan Edwards, Ball State

Running Back – Trayion Durham, Kent State

Placekicker – Jeremiah Detmer, Toledo

 

Position – Name - School

Outside Linebacker – C.J. Malauulu, Kent State +

Outside Linebacker – Alphonso Lewis, Ohio

Inside Linebacker – Dwayne Woods, Bowling Green #&

Inside Linebacker – Desmond Bozeman, Western Michigan

Down Lineman – Nate Ollie, Ball State +

Down Lineman – Jake Dooley, Kent State

Down Lineman – Neal Huynh, Ohio

Down Lineman – Ted Ouellet, Bowling Green

Defensive Back – Cam Truss, Bowling Green

Defensive Back – Eric Patterson, Ball State

Defensive Back – Cheatham Norrils, Toledo

Defensive Back – Johnnie Simon, Western Michigan +

Punter – Colter Johnson, UMass

 

Kickoff Return Specialist – Jamill Smith, Ball State

Punt Return Specialist – Jamill Smith, Ball State +

 

 

& 2011 First team All-MAC

+ 2011 Second team All-MAC

! 2011 Third team All-MAC

 

@ 2010 First team All-MAC

# 2010 Second team All-MAC

% 2010 Third team All-MAC