Mid-American Conference

 ^{CLEVELAND -- A total of 23 repeat selections from last year’s All-MAC team and the second defensive player in league history to win the prestigious Vern Smith Leadership Award highlighted the 2007 Mid-American Conference football honors as announced today.}

^{Northern Illinois University defensive end Larry English was tabbed as the winner of the 26th annual Vern Smith Leadership Award, the third Huskie in league history to be recognized. English joins NIU quarterback Tim Tyrrell (1983) and running back Garrett Wolfe (2006) in the select company. English led the MAC in sacks with 10.5 and had five sacks in one game, that a Sept. 22 win at Idaho. English was recognized for that effort as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America. Previously, linebacker Ray Bentley of Central Michigan won the award in 1982 as the only other defensive player to be honored.}

^{In awards voted by the MAC News Media Association, Buffalo’s Turner Gill was named Coach of the Year, Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour as Offensive Player of the Year, Clayton Mullins of Miami as Defensive Player of the Year, Brett Kern of Toledo as Special Teams Player of the Year, and Antonio Brown of Central Michigan as Freshman of the Year.}

^{Gill guided the Bulls to an East Division co-championship with a 4-2 division record and 5-3 overall MAC record, the best season in the I-A (Football Championship Subdivision) history for the school. Gill inherited a program two years ago that had won just seven total conference games as a MAC member from 1999-2005. The Bulls were in contention for the East Division Championship the entire season and won a school-record three-consecutive MAC games in October.}

^{LeFevour, the 2006 MAC Freshman of the Year, followed up his first campaign with another impressive performance. In leading the Chippewas to its second consecutive MAC Championship game, LeFevour completed 66.1 percent of his pass attempts (314-of-475) for 3,175 yards and 22 touchdowns. In addition, LeFevour has challenged defenses with his running skills, ranking eighth in the league with his 838 yards and second in rushing touchdowns with 15. The LeFevour-directed offense led the MAC with its 33.7 points per game.}

^{Mullins garnered defensive honors for helping the RedHawks to its first league title game since 2004. Mullins anchored the Miami defense that in MAC-only games led the league in scoring defense (18.6 ppg allowed), pass defense (186.3 ypg allowed), rush defense (108.9 ypg allowed), total defense (295.1 ypg allowed), pass efficiency defense (114.1 rating) and sacks (27). Mullins tied for the MAC lead in tackles per game with his 10.8 average that included 64 solo stops and 65 assisted tackles. He was credited with four sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss during the season.}

^{Kern is one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter and he leads the MAC with a 46.1 yards per kick average. He also ranks second in the nation in punting. Of his 52 punts, 17 of them have landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Kern’s abilities have Toledo ranked as the No. 1 MAC team in net punting at 39.5 net yards per punt.}

^{Brown, a walk-on, burst onto the seen this year as one of the league’s top receivers and kick return specialist. The Miami, Fla., native caught a school-record 92 passes for 879 yards and five touchdowns in CMU’s high-powered offense. He also returned 35 kickoffs for 969 yards, a 27.7 average that ranked third in the MAC, and a 90-yard touchdown as well. Brown returned 10 punts for 124 yards, a 12.4 average.}

^{Among the repeat All-MAC honorees is Bowling Green center Kory Lichtensteiger, who as also selected All-MAC in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Toledo offensive lineman John Greco, earned all-league status for the third time in his career.}

^{Those honored for the second time in their career includes this year’s first-teamers Dan LeFevour (quarterback) and Red Keith (linebacker) from Central Michigan; Darius Hill (tight end) and Chris Miller (punter) of Ball State; Kalvin McRae, (running back) of Ohio; Jalen Parmele (running back) and Barry Church (defensive back) from Toledo; Larry English (defensive end) of Northern Illinois; and Londen Fryar (defensive back) of Western Michigan.}

^{Second and third team All-MAC selections who added to their previous all-conference honors are Eric Tunney (offensive lineman), Bryan Anderson (wide receiver), Steven Friend (down lineman) and Andre Hartline (offensive lineman) from Central Michigan; Chris Kemme (offensive lineman) of Akron, James Starks (running back) from Buffalo; Landon Cohen (down lineman) and Jamison Hartke (down lineman) of Ohio; Joe Hudson (inside linebacker) from Miami; and Branden Ledbetter (tight end) from Western Michigan.}

^{A complete list of the award winners is listed below.}