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The MAC announced its First, Second, and Third Teams on Wednesday, as well as the winners of individual awards.
Western Michigan running back LeVante Bellamy won the Vern Smith Leadership Award, which is given to the best overall player in the MAC. Bellamy, the first winner of the award from Western Michigan since Zach Terrell in 2016, also took home Offensive Player of the Year honors. The senior running back led all players in the FBS with 23 rushing touchdowns and finished the regular season eighth in rushing yards with 1,412.
The Defensive Player of the Year award also landed in Kalamazoo. Junior outside linebacker Treshaun Hayward enjoyed a breakout season, ranking fourth in the FBS in tackles with 132. He’s seventh in the country in solo tackles and also contributed 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble this year with the Broncos.
Kent State kicker Matthew Trickett won the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, sinking 24 field goals on 29 attempts. He connected on 90% of kicks between 40 and 49 yards and nailed all 35 extra points he attempted in 2019.
The Freshman of the Year was bestowed upon Miami (OH) quarterback Brett Gabbert. A true freshman starting quarterback, Gabbert led the RedHawks to their first MAC title game since 2010. He started all 12 regular season games and threw for 1,967 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Central Michigan’s first-year head coach Jim McElwain was the runaway winner of Coach of the Year. The former Colorado State and Florida head coach met success immediately in Mt. Pleasant, improving the Chippewas from 1-11 to 8-4 and earning a place in the MAC Championship Game. McElwain is now a Coach of the Year winner in three conferences — Mountain West, SEC, and MAC.
Ohio free safety Javon Hagan is the only current player to be selected for four consecutive All-MAC teams, earning the honor each year from 2016-19 with the Bobcats.
First Team All-MAC
Offense
- QB - Nathan Rourke, Ohio
- RB - LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan
- RB - Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
- WR - Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan
- WR - Justin Hall, Ball State
- WR - Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
- WR - JaCorey Sullivan, Central Michigan
- TE - Giovanni Ricci, Western Michigan
- OL - Danny Pinter, Ball State
- OL - Luke Juriga, Western Michigan
- OL - Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois
- OL - Evin Ksiezarczyk, Buffalo
- OL - Tommy Doyle, Miami (OH)
Defense
- DL - Sean Adesanya, Central Michigan
- DL - Taylor Riggins, Buffalo
- DL - Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo
- DL - Doug Costin, Miami (OH)
- ILB - Jacob White, Ball State
- ILB - John Lako, Akron
- OLB - Treshaun Hayward, Western Michigan
- OLB - Troy Brown, Central Michigan
- DB - Joey Banks, Buffalo
- DB - Javon Hagan, Ohio
- DB - Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan
- DB - Antonio Phillips, Ball State
Special Teams
- K - Matthew Trickett, Kent State
- P - Kyle Kramer, Miami (OH)
- KR - Keith Mixon Jr., Western Michigan
- PR - Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan
Second Team All-MAC
Offense
- QB - Mike Glass III, Eastern Michigan
- RB - Bryant Koback, Toledo
- RB - Caleb Huntley, Ball State
- WR - Riley Miller, Ball State
- WR - Arthur Jackson III, Eastern Michigan
- WR - Bryce Mitchell, Toledo
- WR - Quintin Morris, Bowling Green
- TE - Tony Poljan, Central Michigan
- OL - Austen Pleasants, Ohio
- OL - Jaylon Moore, Western Michigan
- OL - Kayode Awosika, Buffalo
- OL - Mike Caliendo, Western Michigan
- OL - Paul Nosworthy, Buffalo
Defense
- DL - Ali Fayad, Western Michigan
- DL - Jack Heflin, Northern Illinois
- DL - Ledarius Mack, Buffalo
- DL - Kameron Butler, Miami (OH)
- ILB - Michael Oliver, Central Michigan
- ILB - Drake Spears, Western Michigan
- OLB - Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan
- OLB - Kadofi Wright, Buffalo
- DB - Jamal Parker, Kent State
- DB - Mykelti Williams, Northern Illinois
- DB - Amechi Uzodinma, Ball State
- DB - Tyrone Hill, Buffalo
Special Teams
- K - Sam Sloman, Miami (OH)
- P - Michael Farkas, Ohio
- KR - Malik Dunner, Ball State
- PR - Maurice Thomas, Miami (OH)
Third Team All-MAC
Offense
- QB - Jon Wassink, Western Michigan
- RB - Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan
- RB - Tre Harbison, Northern Illinois
- WR - Isaiah McKoy, Kent State
- WR - Antonio Nunn, Buffalo
- WR - Mike Carrigan, Kent State
- WR - Dylan Drummond, Eastern Michigan
- TE - Mitchell Brinkman, Northern Illinois
- OL - Nick Rosi, Toledo
- OL - Danny Godlevske, Miami (OH)
- OL - Curtis Blackwell, Ball State
- OL - Marques Grimes, Ohio
- OL - Steven Hayes, Ohio
Defense
- DL - Jamal Hines, Toledo
- DL - Chibueze Onwuka, Buffalo
- DL - Theo Majette, Kent State
- DL - Robi Stuart, Central Michigan
- ILB - Kobie Beltram, Eastern Michigan
- ILB - Jaylin Thomas, Ball State
- OLB - Myles Reid, Miami (OH)
- OLB - Kholbe Coleman, Bowling Green
- DB - Alvin Davis, Akron
- DB - Emmanuel Rugamba, Miami (OH)
- DB - Patrick Lupro, Western Michigan
- DB - Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan
Special Teams
- K - John Richardson, Northern Illinois
- P - Derek Adams, Kent State
- KR - D.L. Knock, Ohio
- PR - Keith Mixon Jr.
Selections by Team - Total (First, Second, Third)
- Western Michigan - 13 (6, 4, 3)
- Buffalo - 12 (5, 5, 2)
- Ball State - 10 (4, 4, 2)
- Central Michigan - 9 (5, 2, 2)
- Miami (OH) - 9 (3, 3, 3)
- Ohio - 7 (2, 2, 3)
- Eastern Michigan - 7 (1, 3, 3)
- Northern Illinois - 6 (1, 2, 3)
- Kent State - 6 (1, 1, 4)
- Toledo - 4 (0, 2, 2)
- Akron - 2 (1, 0, 1)
- Bowling Green - 2 (0, 1, 1)
Four-Time All-MAC Selections
- Javon Hagan, DB, Ohio
Three-Time All-MAC Selections
- Nathan Rourke, QB, Ohio
- Justin Hall, WR, Ball State
- Luke Juriga, OL, Western Michigan
- Vince Calhoun, DB, Eastern Michigan
- Brody Hoying, DB/OLB, Eastern Michigan
- Alvin Davis, DB, Akron
- Michael Farkas, P, Ohio
- Malik Dunner, KR, Ball State
Two-Time All-MAC Selections
- LeVante Bellamy, RB, Western Michigan
- Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo
- Tre Harbison, RB, Northern Illinois
- Riley Miller, WR, Ball State
- Giovanni Ricci, TE, Western Michigan
- Evin Ksiezarczyk, OL, Buffalo
- Danny Godlevske, OL, Miami (OH)
- Doug Costin, DL, Miami (OH)
- Jack Heflin, DL, Northern Illinois
- Jacob White, ILB, Ball State
- John Lako, ILB, Akron
- Mykelti Williams, DB, Northern Illinois
- Kevin McGill, DB, Eastern Michigan
- Matthew Trickett, K, Kent State
- Kyle Kramer, P, Miami (OH)