For the first time in 4 years, an NIU player probably is not going to win the Vern Smith Award. So who is the front-runner for this year? There's no dominant QB, so my inclination is that it will be the WMU RB, Franklin.

Franklin is a good choice, would likely be Rawls but he has missed too much. Actually I don't know with his purse theft.

Its definitely a down year as far as choices. Seems like in the past there were a few good choices you could go with.

Kareem Hunt may have had a chance if he stayed healthy. I think Franklin will win it just by default since no one else stayed healthy enough to do anything and there are no dominant players this season.

Are there any notable defensive players this year? Like a Kahlil Mack or Roosevelt Nix or somebody like that?

Franklin is the clear choice. Kid is a monster. Its not his because of no competition, its just his.

Either Franklin or Hunt. Either is deserving-Franklin is one of the best frosh at any position that the MAC has ever had. Hunt is a dominant RB who might be leading the nation in rushing if he stayed healthy. Both are very young. Here's hoping they lead a resurgance of MAC football after this abysmal season is over.

That Robert Lewis kid from BG had a couple good games.

Bump...

Really curious about who wins it this week. I think Franklin easily wins FOY and probably OPOY, but I'm not sure he wins the Vern.

Hunt's numbers blows Franklins away except for the TD's. Hunt was #1 in the MAC in Rushing and All Purpose Running - both total Schedules and MAC Games only. Franklin ranks #3 or #4. In 2 less MAC games, Hunt actually has more yardage than Franklin in 71 less attempts. Take a look at the stat section of the MAC website. This week Hunt's stats will finally be included the NCAA's, where he'll be among the nation's elite RB's.

Kareem Hunt NCAA National Ranking:
Rushing Yds Per Game #3
All Purpose #9
Rushing Yards Per Attempt #4

Touchdowns are pretty important

(11-30-2014 09:27 AM)Ubish Wrote:  Touchdowns are pretty important

Absolutely. Franklin had 24 of WMU's 28 rushing TD's in 12 games.
Hunt had 11 TD's of UT's 28 rushing TD's in 9 games. Swanson had 6 rushing TD's. Macon and Jones-Moore 4 each and Woodside 3.

Neither NIU nor BG has anyone that stands out as the top player in the conference. It'll be one of the 2 RBs more than likely and since it's rare that a freshman will win the MVP, my guess right now would be Hunt.

When will the results be released?

Winner is Toledo center Greg Mancz.

First reaction, wow.

Second reaction, okay I understand it. He's the best lineman in the conference and probably the best pro prospect in the conference.

Franklin wins foy and offensive player of the year. . Peej gets coy

He didn't get to play vs. NIU either!! ugh

2014 FIRST TEAM ALL-MAC

2014 All-MAC First Team Offense

Position – Name - School

Quarterback – Blake Frohnapfel, UMass

Offensive Linemen – Greg Mancz, Toledo @!

Offensive Linemen – Nick Beamish, Central Michigan

Offensive Linemen – Andy Phillips, Central Michigan @

Offensive Linemen – Andrew Ness, Northern Illinois

Offensive Lineman – Tyler Loos, Northern Illinois ^+

Tight End – Jean Sifrin, UMass

Wide Receiver – Tajae Sharpe, UMass

Wide Receiver – Titus Davis, Central Michigan ^+%

Wide Receiver – Corey Davis, Western Michigan @

Wide Receiver – Roger Lewis, Bowling Green

Running Back – Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan

Running Back – Kareem Hunt, Toledo

Placekicker – Scott Secor, Ball State #

2014 All-MAC First Team Defense

Position – Name - School

Outside Linebacker – Jatavis Brown, Akron ^

Outside Linebacker – Junior Sylvestre, Toledo ^

Inside Linebacker – Justin Cherocci, Central Michigan #

Inside Linebacker – Jovan Santos-Knox, UMass

Down Lineman – Jason Meehan, Northern Illinois

Down Lineman – Leterrius Walton, Central Michigan

Down Lineman – Pat O’Connor, Eastern Michigan

Down Lineman – Cody Grice, Akron

Defensive Back – Quinten Rollins, Miami

Defensive Back – Nate Holley, Kent State

Defensive Back – Donald Celiscar, Western Michigan #

Defensive Back – Paris Logan, Northern Illinois

Punter – Anthony Melchiori, Kent State @

2014 All-MAC First Team Specialists

Position – Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist – Eric Patterson, Ball State

Punt Return Specialist –Ryan Burbrink, Bowling Green @



2014 SECOND TEAM ALL-MAC

2014 All-MAC Second Team Offense

Position – Name - School

Quarterback – Zach Terrell, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Alex Huettel, Bowling Green @

Offensive Lineman – Willie Beavers, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Josh Hendershot, Toledo

Offensive Lineman – Jake Silas, Buffalo

Offensive Lineman – Jeff Myers, Toledo #

Tight End – Casey Pierce, Kent State

Wide Receiver – Da’Ron Brown, Northern Illinois @

Wide Receiver – David Frazier, Miami

Wide Receiver – Corey Jones, Toledo

Wide Receiver – Jordan Williams, Ball State #

Running Back – Anthone Taylor, Buffalo

Running Back – Thomas Rawls, Central Michigan

Placekicker – Jeremiah Detmer, Toledo ^!

2014 All-MAC Second Team Defense

Position – Name - School

Outside Linebacker – Gabe Martin, Bowling Green @&

Outside Linebacker – Adam Redden, Buffalo #

Inside Linebacker – Boomer Mays, Northern Illinois

Inside Linebacker – Great Ibe, Eastern Michigan

Down Lineman – Orion Jones, Toledo

Down Lineman – Treyvon Hester, Toledo #

Down Lineman – Nordly Capi, Akron

Down Lineman – Perez Ford, Northern Illinois

Defensive Back – Randall Jette, UMass

Defensive Back – Nick Johnson, Bowling Green

Defensive Back – Jordan Haden, Toledo

Defensive Back – Dechane Durante, Northern Illinois #

Punter – Zach Paul, Akron #



2014 All-MAC Second Team Specialists

Position – Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist – Devin Campbell, Buffalo

Punt Return Specialist – Daz Patterson, Ohio

2014 THIRD TEAM ALL-MAC

2014 All-MAC Third Team Offense

Position – Name - School

Quarterback – Andrew Hendrix, Miami

Offensive Lineman – James Kristof, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Lucas Powell, Ohio

Offensive Lineman – Jake Richard, Ball State #

Offensive Lineman – Andre Davis, Buffalo

Offensive Lineman – Zach Lewis, Miami

Tight End – Tyreese Russell, Eastern Michigan @

Wide Receiver – Daniel Braverman, Western Michigan

Wide Receiver – Alonzo Russell, Toledo #!

Wide Receiver – Ron Willoughby, Buffalo

Wide Receiver – KeVonn Mabon, Ball State

Running Back – Cameron Stingily, Northern Illinois

Running Back – Jahwan Edwards, Ball State @!

Placekicker – Tyler Tate, Bowling Green



2014 All-MAC Third Team Defense

Position – Name - School

Outside Linebacker – Jovon Johnson, Ohio

Outside Linebacker – Rasheen Lemon, Northern Illinois

Inside Linebacker – Stanley Andre, UMass

Inside Linebacker – Lee Skinner, Buffalo

Down Lineman – Bryan Thomas, Bowling Green

Down Lineman – Tarrell Basham, Ohio

Down Lineman – Joe Ostman, Central Michigan

Down Lineman – Darnell Smith, Ball State

Defensive Back – Eric Patterson, Ball State

Defensive Back – Tony Annese, Central Michigan

Defensive Back – Ronald Zamort, Western Michigan

Defensive Back – Justin Currie, Western Michigan

Punter – J. Schroeder, Western Michigan

2014 All-MAC Third Team Specialists

Position – Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist – Darius Phillips, Western Michigan

Punt Return Specialist – Fred McRae, Miami

^ 2013 First-Team All-MAC

@ 2013 Second-Team All-MAC

# 2013 Third-Team All-MAC

& 2012 First-Team All-MAC

+ 2012 Second-Team All-MAC

! 2012 Third-Team All-MAC

% 2011 Third-Team All-MAC

Vern Smith Leadership Award Winners

(Jefferson Award from 1982-86)

1982 Ray Bentley (CMU) LB

1983 Tim Tyrrell (NIU) QB

1984 Brian McClure (BGSU) QB

1985 Brian McClure (BGSU) QB

1986 Terry Morris (MIA) QB

1987 Eric Wilkerson (KSU) TB

1988 Tony Kimbrough (WMU) QB

1989 David Riley (BSU) QB

1990 Jeff Bender (CMU) QB

1991 Erik White (BGSU) QB

1992 Erik White (BGSU) QB

1993 Mike Neu (BSU) QB

1994 Brian Pruitt (CMU) TB

1995 Wasean Tait (UT) TB

1996 Brad Maynard (BSU) P

1997 Randy Moss (MAR) WR

1998 Travis Prentice (MIA) TB

1999 Chad Pennington (MAR) QB

2000 Robert Sanford (WMU) TB

2001 Byron Leftwich (MAR) QB

2002 Byron Leftwich (MAR) QB

2003 Ben Roethlisberger (MIA) QB

2004 Charlie Frye (UA) QB

2005 Bruce Gradkowski (UT) QB

Greg Jennings (WMU) WR

2006 Garrett Wolfe (NIU) RB

2007 Larry English (NIU) DE

2008 Larry English (NIU) DE

2009 Dan LeFevour (CMU) QB

2010 Chad Spann (NIU) RB

2011 Chandler Harnish (NIU) QB

2012 Jordan Lynch (NIU) QB

2013 Jordan Lynch (NIU) QB

2014 Greg Mancz (UT), C

I"m shocked the UMass kicker AKA "That Guy" didn't make it....

(11-30-2014 09:27 AM)Ubish Wrote:  Touchdowns are pretty important

Toledo also had 28 rushing TD's this season also. I think we had a 100 yard rusher every game... even when Kareem wasn't playing?? Swanson had 172 vs. WMU, and 120something vs. ISU? Not sure about the CMU game?

UT handed the ball to 5 different scorers, sort of like NIU only without a bruiser like Stingely.

I agree touchdowns are extremely important, but it's not like UT had trouble finding the endzone with their backs. Kareem may have been a goal line guy but UT had so many long runs for TD's he never "padded his stats" so to speak. Macon had some TD rushes late in the season from the wildcat/qb position too.

I don't like to complain about these things, but it is ridiculous Joe Licata is not on this list... Much better numbers than Hendrix and UB only got to play 11 games this season... Again the MAC canceling our last game very well could have prevented Licata from All-MAC consideration.