MAC Football Defensive Players of the Year
1980 — Mike Terra, Northern Illinois
1983 — Kelly Spielmaker, Western Michigan
1986 — Marshall Taylor, Northern Illinois (listed in Freshman as well)
1998 — Brad Selent, Western Michigan
1999 — Dave Zastudil, Ohio
2000 — Justin McCareins, Northern Illinois
2001 — Dave Zastudil, Ohio / Steve Azar, Northern Illinois
2002 — Dan Sheldon, Northern Illinois
2003 — Steve Azar, Northern Illinois
2004 — Ryne Robinson, Miami
2005 — Jason Robbins, Toledo
2006 — Brian Jackson, Ball State
2007 — Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
2008 — Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
2009 — Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
2010 — Eric Page, Toledo
2011 — Matt Weller, Ohio
2012 — Dri Archer, Kent State
2013 — Jeremiah Detmer, Toledo
2014 — Scott Secor, Ball State
2015 — Aregeros Turner, Northern Illinois
2016 — Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
2017 — Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
2018 — Diontae Johnson, Toledo
2019 — Matthew Trickett, Kent State
2020 — D’Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan
2021 — Khalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan
2022 — Alex McNulty, Buffalo
2023 — Graham Nicholson, Miami
2024 — Malcolm Gillie, Ball State