MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 2019 POST SEASON AWARDS;
WESTERN MICHIGAN RB LeVANTE BELLAMY NAMED MAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR & VERN SMITH LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER
Cleveland, Ohio – A total of 24 repeat selections from last year’s All-MAC teams highlight the 2019 postseason football awards in the Mid-American Conference as Central Michigan, Miami, Western Michigan and Kent State swept the annual awards.
Western Michigan senior running back LeVante Bellamy was tabbed as the winner of the 38th Vern Smith Leadership Award as the top player in the MAC and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Central Michigan Head Coach Jim McElwain was selected as the MAC Head Coach of the Year, while Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert was named MAC Freshman of the Year. Western Michigan junior Treshaun Hayward was selected as MAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Kent State sophomore kicker Matt Trickett was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.
2019 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Jim McElwain, Central Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: RB LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: OLB Treshaun Hayward, Western Michigan
Special Teams Player of the Year: K Matthew Trickett, Kent State
Freshman of the Year: QB Brett Gabbert, Miami
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: RB LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan
McElwain is in his first season in leading the Central Michigan program and has the Chippewas in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game for the first time since 2009. McElwain has led the program to a dramatic turnaround as Central Michigan’s seven wins improvement from last year is the best in FBS this season as the Chippewas have turned a 1-11 overall record, 0-8 in the MAC in 2018, into an 8-4 overall mark in 2019 and the West Division title with a 6-2 league record.
Bellamy, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., leads the nation with 23 rushing touchdowns and ranks eighth in the nation with 1,412 yards rushing this season. Bellamy’s 23 rushing touchdowns this season rank tied for fourth best in MAC single-season history. Bellamy had 248 carries this year and averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 117.7 yards per game. Bellamy was tied for second in the nation with 138 points this season for an average of 11.5 points per game. Bellamy was part of a Western Michigan offense that was second in total offense in the MAC (457.2 yards per game) and third in the MAC in scoring (34.2 points per game).
Hayward, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., led the Broncos and ranked second in the MAC and fifth in the nation with 132 total tackles. His 10.5 tackles for loss ranked tied for 10th in the MAC and his five sacks were tied for seventh most in the league. Hayward added one forced fumble and one fumble recovered. Hayward was part of a Western Michigan defense that ranked second in the MAC in scoring defense (26.2 points per game) as the Broncos are bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season.
Gabbert, a native of St. Louis, Mo., started all 12 games for Miami and led the RedHawks offense with 1,967 yards passing and 10 touchdowns. Gabbert completed 139-of-258 attempts for a 53.8% and averaged 163.9 yards passing per game. Gabbert led Miami to a 7-5 overall record and the MAC East Division title and a trip to the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game for the first time since 2010.
Trickett, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, led the MAC and was tied for second in the country with a career-high 24 field goals made in leading Kent State to a 6-6 overall record, 5-3 in the MAC, and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012. Trickett was 24-of-29 field goals made this season for an 82.7% and led the MAC with 107 total points. His 107 points for an average of 8.9 points per game ranked 21st in the nation.
Western Michigan led the way in 2019 with six First-Team selections, followed by Central Michigan and Buffalo with five First-Team selections, while Ball State featured four First-Team honorees. Overall, Western Michigan set the pace with 13 All-MAC selections, followed by Buffalo with 12 All-MAC selections and Ball State with 10 All-MAC honorees, followed by Central Michigan and Miami with nine All-MAC selections.
There were four students named to their second First Team All-MAC selection: senior safety Javon Hagan (Ohio), sophomore kicker Matthew Trickett (Kent State), senior running back LeVante Bellamy (Western Michigan) and senior offensive lineman Luke Juriga (Western Michigan).
2019 FIRST TEAM ALL-MAC
2019 All-MAC First Team Offense
Position – Name - School
Quarterback – Nathan Rourke, Ohio +#
Offensive Linemen – Danny Pinter, Ball State
Offensive Linemen – Luke Juriga, Western Michigan &#
Offensive Lineman – Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois
Offensive Linemen – Evin Ksiezarczyk, Buffalo +
Offensive Linemen – Tommy Doyle, Miami
Tight End – Giovanni Ricci, Western Michigan %
Wide Receiver – Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Justin Hall, Ball State %#
Wide Receiver – Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – JaCorey Sullivan, Central Michigan
Running Back – LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan &
Running Back – Jaret Patterson, Buffalo +
Placekicker – Matt Trickett, Kent State &
2019 All-MAC First Team Defense
Position – Name - School
Outside Linebacker – Treshaun Hayward, Western Michigan
Outside Linebacker – Troy Brown, Central Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Jacob White, Ball State %
Inside Linebacker – John Lako, Akron %
Down Lineman – Sean Adesanya, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Taylor Riggins, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Doug Costin, Miami +
Defensive Back – Joey Banks, Buffalo
Defensive Back – Javon Hagan, Ohio &#*
Defensive Back – Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan %^
Defensive Back – Antonio Phillips, Ball State
Punter – Kyle Kramer, Miami %
2019 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Position – Name - School
Kickoff Return Specialist – Keith Mixon Jr., Western Michigan
Punt Return Specialist – Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan
2019 SECOND TEAM ALL-MAC
2019 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Position – Name - School
Quarterback – Mike Glass III, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Austen Pleasants, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jaylon Moore, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Kayode Awosika, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Mike Caliendo, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Paul Nosworthy, Buffalo
Tight End – Tony Poljan, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Riley Miller, Ball State +
Wide Receiver – Arthur Jackson, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Bryce Mitchell, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Quintin Morris, Bowling Green
Running Back – Bryant Koback, Toledo
Running Back – Caleb Huntley, Ball State
Placekicker – Sam Sloman, Miami
2019 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Position – Name - School
Outside Linebacker – Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan %@ (as defensive back)
Outside Linebacker – Kadofi Wright, Buffalo
Inside Linebacker – Michael Oliver, Central Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Drake Spears, Western Michigan
Down Lineman – Ali Fayad, Western Michigan
Down Lineman – Jack Heflin, Northern Illinois %
Down Lineman – Ledarius Mack, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Kameron Butler, Miami
Defensive Back – Jamal Parker, Kent State
Defensive Back – Mykelti Williams, Northern Illinois +
Defensive Back – Amechi Uzodinma, Ball State
Defensive Back – Tyrone Hill, Buffalo
Punter – Michael Farkas, Ohio &!
2019 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Position – Name - School
Kickoff Return Specialist – Malik Dunner, Ball State %^
Punt Return Specialist – Maurice Thomas, Miami
2019 THIRD TEAM ALL-MAC
2019 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Position – Name - School
Quarterback – Jon Wassink, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Nick Rosi, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Danny Godlevske, Miami %
Offensive Lineman – Curtis Blackwell, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Marques Grimes, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Steven Hayes, Ohio
Tight End – Mitchell Brinkman, Northern Illinois
Wide Receiver – Isaiah McKoy, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Antonio Nunn, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Mike Carrigan, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Dylan Drummond, Eastern Michigan
Running Back – Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan
Running Back – Tre Harbison, Northern Illinois +
Placekicker – John Richardson, Northern Illinois
2019 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Position – Name - School
Outside Linebacker – Myles Reid, Miami
Outside Linebacker – Kholbe Coleman, Bowling Green
Inside Linebacker – Kobie Beltram, Eastern Michigan
Inside Linebacker – Jaylin Thomas, Ball State
Down Lineman – Jamal Hines, Toledo
Down Lineman – Chibueze Onwuka, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Theo Majette, Kent State
Down Lineman – Robi Stuart, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Alvin Davis, Akron &#
Defensive Back – Emmanuel Rugamba, Miami
Defensive Back – Patrick Lupro, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan +
Punter – Derek Adams, Kent State
2019 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Position – Name - School
Kickoff Return Specialist – DL Knock, Ohio
Punt Return Specialist – Keith Mixon Jr., Western Michigan
& 2018 First-Team All-MAC
+ 2018 Second-Team All-MAC
% 2018 Third-Team All-MAC
@ 2017 First-Team All-MAC
# 2017 Second-Team All-MAC
^ 2017 Third-Team All-MAC
= 2016 First-Team All-MAC
* 2016 Second-Team All-MAC
! 2016 Third-Team All-MAC
