The Mid-American Conference all-league teams were released today. Toledo had four players honored, Barry Church on the first team, Stephen Williams and Nick Moore on the second team, and DaJuane Collins on the third team.
Several things stood out to me as I looked at this team:
-- How does a team with one Division I win, Miami, get seven players on the three teams? Four defensive players, to boot. Their scoring defense and rushing defense was 12th in the league.
-- Bowling Green finishes second in the East and gets one starter represented. A guy who leads the league with 11 pass breakups, Antonio Smith, gets no mention.
-- Tim Hiller was better than Dan LeFevour this year, with 15 more TD passes and 1,000 more passing yards.
-- With 119 tackles, good for second in the MAC, Archie Donald should have been honored.
-- Julian Edelman tore up MAC defenses all year and should have been mentioned in some way.
-- Antonio Brown is a great punt returner, but he isn't even in the top 10 in the league in kickoff return average.
-- I'm a big DaJuane Collins fan but as the Toledo release said, he was injured most of the year and was the second-leading rusher on his own team, with Morgan Williams outgaining him by 300 yards.
With that said, here is the lengthy list of awards.
Individual Award Winners
Vern Smith Leadership Award Larry English, Northern Illinois
Coach of the Year Brady Hoke, Ball State
Offensive Player of the Year Nate Davis, Ball State
Defensive Player of the Year Larry English, Northern Illinois
Special Teams Player of the Year Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Freshman of the Year Sean Baker, Ball State
Offense
First Team
Center - Dan Gerberry, Ball State
Lineman - Robert Brewster, Ball State
Lineman Andrew Hartline, Central Michigan
Lineman Chris Kemme, Akron
Lineman - Andre Ramsey, Ball State
Tight End - Darius Hill, Ball State
Quarterback - Nate Davis, Ball State
Wide Receiver - Jamarko Simmons, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver - Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo
Wide Receiver - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver - Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan
Running Back - MiQuale Lewis, Ball State
Running Back - James Starks, Buffalo
Placekicker Nate Parseghian, Miami
Second Team
Center - Alex Derenthal, Temple
Lineman Augustus Parrish, Kent State
Lineman Jeff Niedermier, Buffalo
Lineman Josh Leuck, Ohio
Lineman - T. J. Lang, Eastern Michigan
Tight End - Branden Ledbetter, Western Michigan
Quarterback - Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver - Nick Moore, Toledo
Wide Receiver - Dante Love, Ball State
Wide Receiver - Stephen Williams, Toledo
Wide Receiver - Jacory Stone, Eastern Michigan
Running Back - Dennis Kennedy, Akron
Running Back - Eugene Jarvis, Kent State
Placekicker Mike Salerno, Northern Illinois
Third Team
Center - Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois
Lineman Jon Brost, Northern Illinois
Lineman Phillip Sawnson, Western Michigan
Lineman Jason Onyebuagu, Northern Illinois
Lineman - Greg Wojt, Central Michigan
Tight End - Andrew Mooney, Ohio
Quarterback - Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver - Andre Jones, Akron
Wide Receiver - Deryn Bowser, Akron
Wide Receiver - Bruce Francis, Temple
Wide Receiver - Juan Nunez, Western Michigan
Running Back - Brandon West, Western Michigan
Running Back - DaJuane Collins, Toledo
Placekicker - Andrew Aguila, Central Michigan
Defense
First Team
Outside Linebacker - Clayton Mullins, Miami
Outside Linebacker - Austin Pritchard, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker - Nick Bellore, Central Michigan
Inside Linebacker - Joe Hudson, Miami
Down Lineman - Larry English, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman - Frank Zombo, Central Michigan
Down Lineman - Diyral Briggs, Bowling Green
Down Lineman - Terrance Knighton, Temple
Defensive Back - Louis Delmas, Western Michigan
Defensive Back - B.J. Hill, Ball State
Defensive Back - Davonte Shannon, Buffalo
Defensive Back - Barry Church, Toledo
Punter Jake Richardson, Miami
Second Team
Outside Linebacker - Derek Burrell, Kent State
Outside Linebacker - Noah Keller, Ohio
Inside Linebacker - Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan
Inside Linebacker - Kevin Grant, Akron
Down Lineman - Andre Neblett, Temple
Down Lineman - Jameson Hartke, Ohio
Down Lineman - Zach Davidson, Western Michigan
Down Lineman - Brandon Crawford, Ball State
Defensive Back - E.J. Biggers, Western Michigan
Defensive Back - Londen Fryar, Western Michigan
Defensive Back - Mike Newton, Buffalo
Defensive Back - Brian Lainhart, Kent State
Punter Chris Miller, Ball State
Third Team
Outside Linebacker Justin Winters, Buffalo
Outside Linebacker - Boston McCornell, Western Michigan
Inside Linebacker Bryant Haines, Ball State
Inside Linebacker - Tim McCarthy, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman Brandon Bice, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman - Joe Coniglio, Miami
Down Lineman - Almondo Sewell, Akron
Down Lineman - Sean Murnane, Central Michigan
Defensive Back Steven Jackson, Ohio
Defensive Back - Trey Buice, Ball State
Defensive Back - Robbie Wilson, Miami
Defensive Back - Bryan Williams, Akron
Punter Nick Iovinelli, Bowling Green
Kickoff Return Specialist
First Team - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Second Team - Travis Shelton, Temple
Third Team - Bryan Williams, Akron
Punt Return Specialist
First Team Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Second Team - B.J. Hill, Ball State
Third Team - Eugene Harris, Miami