Toledo's Fluellen 2nd in nation in rushing; Molls tied for lead in tackles

Toledo running back David Fluellen is among the nation's leaders in rushing.

DEKALB, Ill. — The University of Toledo athletic media relations department is pushing two of its football players as All-America candidates.

Emails sent to media members and sports information directors highlight the achievements of running back David Fluellen and linebacker Dan Molls, both of whom rank at or near the top of the country in a key statistical category.

Fluellen entered Wednesday’s game at Northern Illinois tied for second in the nation with 1,381 yards rushing and had produced six-consecutive 100-yard performances.

Molls was tied for the national-lead with 132 tackles and has made at least 13 stops in eight games.

Toledo has not crowned an Associated Press All-American since punter Brett Kern earned third-team honors in 2007. Receiver and special teams player extraordinaire Eric Page was named All-America by SI.com in each of his three seasons from 2009-11.

In an email promoting Fluellen, who had 12 rushing touchdowns entering the night, coach Matt Campbell is quoted as saying, “I don’t think there’s a more productive running back in the country right now than David Fluellen.”

Fluellen added to his TD total with a one-yard run to cap a 12-play opening drive.

Campbell said of Molls: “I truly believe he is one of the best linebackers in the country and also one of the best players ever to wear the Midnight Blue and Gold.”

FARR STARTS: Defensive tackle Danny Farr made his first start since the second week of the season against Wyoming. Farr, who missed six games with a knee injury, returned to action in a reserve role two weeks ago at Buffalo.

SINGER RETURNS: Safety Mark Singer returned to the starting line up after sitting out last week’s loss to Ball State with a knee injury.

DETMER STREAKING: Toledo kicker Jeremiah Detmer needed one field goal to tie Rusty Hanna (1992) for the program record with 21 in a season.

Detmer, who is 20 of 25, has converted 13 straight field goals and has made multiple field goals in six games.

NIU SENIORS: The Huskies honored the winningest class in program history before the game. Thirteen seniors, seven of which hail from Illinois, have started a combined 220 games and have etched their legacy atop the NIU record book with a 38-13 mark. At home, the seniors are 21-1, losing only to Idaho in 2009.

BOWL WATCH: Representatives from the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, GoDaddy.com Bowl, and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl were in attendance to see Toledo play for the second week in a row.

Little Caesars will have first choice among the bowls of which MAC team will attend its game on Dec. 26 at Ford Field in Detroit.