All-MAC Football Awards Announced
Nov. 28, 2005
CLEVELAND -- A tie for the league's top honor, the Vern Smith Leadership Award, highlighted the 2005 Mid-American Conference football awards as announced today by the league office. Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and Western Michigan wide receiver Greg Jennings each received 11 votes from the panel comprised of league head coaches and a select group of media representatives. It represents the first tie in the 24 year history of the award.
In voting by the MAC News Media Association, Jennings copped the league's Offensive player of the Year award while Central Michigan's Dan Bazuin was tabbed as the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. The Western Michigan program was recognized with awards for Bill Cubit as Coach of the Year and quarterback Tim Hiller as Freshman of the Year. Toledo placekicker Jason Robbins was named Special Teams Player of the Year.
Gradkowski, a senior from Pittsburgh, Pa., led the Rockets to an 8-3 overall record and a 6-2 league mark in tying Northern Illinois for the West Division title. Gradkowski, despite missing one game (Fresno State) with an injury, completed 62.6 percent (189-of-302) of his pass attempts for 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns for an efficiency rating of 142.6. Wasean Tait in 1995 is the only previous Vern Smith Award winner from Toledo.
Jennings, a senior from Kalamazoo, Mich., led the nation in receptions with 98 for 1,259 yards and 14 touchdowns. His receptions are the fifth highest single season total in league history and his yardage and touchdowns ranks seventh. Jennings is the third Bronco to win the Vern Smith honor, joining Tony Kimbrough (1988) and Robert Sanford (2000). Kimbrough and Sanford also took the Offensive Player of the Year Awards as did Bronco Jerome Persell (197677-78).
Bazuin, a junior defensive end from McBain, Mich., led the MAC in pass sacks with 16 and in tackles for a loss with 28. His stops behind the line of scrimmage led to losses of 186 yards for Chippewa opponents. The 16 sacks tied a MAC single season record, equaling the standard of 16 set by Jonathan Goddard of Marshall in 2004. Bazuin's 28 tackles for a loss are the fifth highest in a season in the league recordbook. Bazuin is the second Chippewa in history to win the award, joining Ray Bentley (1982).
Hiller played in seven games, completing 98-of-150 attempts (65.3 percent) for 1,334 yards and 20 touchdowns with a pass efficiency rating of 180.04. Injuries at quarterback launched Hiller into the starting lineup for the sixth game of the season. He led the Broncos to wins in four of his first five games as a starter before being injured himself in the season finale on the first series of the game at Northern Illinois. In the five full games he played as a starter, WMU averaged 44.2 points per game. Hiller joins former WMU frosh honorees Kelly Spielmaker (1983), Brad Tayles (1989), Tim Lester (1996) and Robert Sanford (1997).
Cubit, in his first year as head coach at WMU, led the team to a 7-4 overall record and a 5-3 conference mark just one year after a 1-10 overall and 0-8 conference record. After opening the season 0-2, the Broncos reeled off three wins in a row before a five-overtime loss to Ball State. WMU then won four more consecutive games and went into the season ending contest at Northern Illinois with a chance to capture a share of the West Division title. Previous Bronco mentors to be so honored are Bill Doolittle (1966), Elliot Uzelac (1976), Al Molde (1988) and Gary Darnell (2000).
Robbins was the most consistent placekicker in the league, making all 12 of his field goal attempts and 48-of-49 PATs. Robbins averaged 7.6 points per game and nailed a season-long 44 yard field goal in Toledo's season ending 44-41 double overtime win at Bowling Green to finish the season 8-3. Robbins is the first Rocket to win the award since it began in 1998.
ALL-MAC
A total of 17 all-conference selections were repeat from 2004. Jennings and Miami offensive lineman Todd Londot were honored with their third consecutive selection to the All-MAC team. Northern Illinois center Brian Van Acker and runningback Garret Wolfe, Central Michigan defensive lineman Dan Bazuin, Western Michigan tight end Tony Scheffler, Eastern Michigan placekicker Andrew Wellock and Miami defensive lineman Marcus Johnson were repeat first-team selections from 2004.
Those named first-team this season after a second-team listing in 2004 are offensive linemen Doug Free and Ben Lueck of Northern Illinois, linebacker Justin Parrish of Kent State and defensive back Darrell Hunter of Miami.
Also honored for the second consecutive season as an all-MAC selection are quarterback Omar Jacobs and offensive linemen Kory Lichtensteiger of Bowling Green, center Todd Londot and linebacker John Busing of Miami, Akron runningback Brett Biggs and Toledo linebacker Keon Jackson. Miami led all institutions with 11 all-conference selections while Northern Illinois and Toledo had eight each. Seven MAC schools had at least five representatives on the team.
First Team All-MAC Offense
Center - Brian Van Acker, Northern Illinois, Sr., Crystal Lake, Ill.#
Lineman - Nate Bunce, Miami, Sr., Hamilton, Ohio
Lineman - Doug Free, Northern Illinois, Jr., Manitowoc, Wis.^
Lineman - Ben Lueck, Northern Illinois, Sr., Oswego, Ill.^
Lineman - John Greco, Toledo, So., Youngstown, Ohio
Tight End - Tony Scheffler, Western Michigan, Sr., Chelsea, Mich.
Wide Receiver - Martin Nance, Miami, Maryland Heights, Md.
Wide Receiver - Sam Hurd, Northern Illinois, Sr., San Antonio, Texas
Wide Receiver - Greg Jennings, Western Michigan, Sr., Kalamazoo, Mich.#@
Quarterback - Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo, Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Runningback - Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois, Jr., Chicago, Ill.#
Runningback - Kalvin McRae, Ohio, So., Decatur, Ga.
Runningback - Trinity Dawson, Toledo, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.
Placekicker - Andrew Wellock, Eastern Michigan, Jr., Canton, Ohio#
First Team All-MAC Defense
Outside Linebacker - John Busing, Miami, Sr., Alpharetta, Ga.^
Outside Linebacker - Mike Alston, Toledo, Jr., Columbus, Ohio
Inside Linebacker - Matt Muncy, Ohio, Jr., Miamisburg, Ohio
Inside Linebacker - Ameer Ismail, Western Michigan, Jr., Holland, Mich.
Down Lineman - Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan, Jr., McBain, Mich.#
Down Lineman - Justin Parrish, Kent State, Sr., Landover Hills, Md.^
Down Lineman - Marcus Johnson, Miami, Sr., Youngstown, Ohio#
Down Lineman - Quince Holman, Northern Illinois, Sr., Woodridge, Ill.
Defensive Back - Darrell Hunter, Miami, Sr., Middletown, Ohio^
Defensive Back - Ray Smith, Northern Illinois, Sr., Crown Point, Ind.
Defensive Back - Dion Byrum, Ohio, Sr., Matthews, N.C.
Defensive Back - Keon Jackson, Toledo, Sr., East Chicago, Ill.^@
Punter - Chris Miller, Ball State, Fr., Libertyville, Ill.
Second Team All-MAC Offense
Center - Todd Londot, Miami, Sr., Utica, Ohio^
Lineman - Kory Lichtensteiger, Bowling Green, So., Van Wert, Ohio^
Lineman - Derrick Markray, Bowling Green, Jr., Detroit, Mich.
Lineman - Jeff Jenerou, Central Michigan, Sr., Manistique, Mich.
Lineman - Mark Kracium, Miami, Sr., New Craslile, Ohio
Tight End - Jake Nordin, Northern Illinois, Jr., Lake Lilian, Minn.
Tight End - Chris Hopkins, Toledo, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
Wide Receiver - Domenik Hixon, Akron, Sr., Columbus, Ohio
Wide Receiver - Charles Sharon, Bowling Green, Sr., Palatak, Fla.
Wide Receiver - Ryne Robinson, Miami, Jr., Toledo, Ohio
Quarterback - Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green, Jr., Delray Beach, Fla.#
Running Backs - Brett Biggs, Akron, Sr., Bartow, Fla.^
Runningback - Brandon Murphy, Miami, Jr., Strongsville, Ohio
Running Backs - Trovon Riley, Western Michigan, Sr., Kankakee, Ill.
Placekicker - Todd Soderquist, Miami, Sr., College Grove, Tenn.
Placekicker - Jason Robbins, Toledo, Sr., Sylvania, Ohio
Second Team All-MAC Defense
Outside Linebacker - Brion Stokes, Akron, So., Charlotte, N.C.
Outside Linebacker - Isaac Brown, Central Michigan, Jr., Saginaw, Mich.
Inside Linebacker - Thomas Keith, Central Michigan, Jr., Franklin, Ga.
Inside Linebacker - Anthony Jordan, Toledo, Sr., Whitehall, Ohio
Lineman - Kiki Gonzalez, Akron, Sr., Elizabeth, N.J.
Lineman - Blair Kramer, Ball State, Sr., Maumee, Ohio
Lineman - Kevin Howe, Eastern Michigan, Jr., Fruitport, Mich.
Lineman - Danny Muir, Kent State, Sr., Lanham, Md.
Defensive Back - Terrill Mayberry, Bowling Green, Jr., Farmington Hills, Mich.
Defensive Back - Rontrell Woodruff, Eastern Michigan, Sr., Southfield, Mich.
Defensive Back - Joey Card, Miami, Jr., Canton, Ohio
Defensive Back - Louis Delmas, Western Michigan, Fr., North Miami Beach, Fla.
Punter - Josh Brazen, Kent State, Sr., Ada, Ohio
Honorable Mention
Punter - Matthew Miller, Ohio, Sr., Westerville, Ohio
Running Back - Ontario Sneed, Central Michigan, Fr., Decatur, Ill.
Outside Linebacker - Michael Richardson, Eastern Michigan, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Inside Linebacker - Jay Rohr, Akron, Sr., Massilon, Ohio
Specialty Awards
Coach of the Year - Bill Cubit, Western Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year - Greg Jennings, Western Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year - Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan
Freshman of the Year - Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
Special Teams Player of the Year - Jason Robbins, Toledo
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner - Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo, and Greg Jennings, Western Michigan
# a 2004 first-team all-MAC selection
^ a 2004 second-team all-MAC selection
@ a 2003 second-team all-MAC selection
Note - The All-MAC team was voted on by the league's 12 head coaches. The specialty awards were voted on by the MAC News Media Association. The first-team and second team offense are comprised of 28 selections, the first-team and second team defense 26 selections, and honorable mention six selections for a total of 60 all-MAC student-athletes. Ties resulted in two tight ends and two placekickers on second team. The Vern Smith Leadership Award was voted by a panel comprised of league head coaches and a select group of media representatives.
