(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports Images)
In every way, shape and form, #MACtion (as both a noun and a verb) is alive and well. Just looking over rosters this spring, it’s simply incredible how much talent returns to this conference in 2013. In specific these offenses (not surprisingly) are stacked; the MAC returns seven wideouts who had at least 800 yards last year, and a staggering seven running backs who rushed for 1,000 yards last season.
Yes, you read that correctly: There are seven RETURNING running backs who rushed for over 1,000 yards last year.
That number is incredible for two reasons:
1. There were only 61 backs who rushed for over 1,000 yards last year in ALL of college football.
2. That number 61 includes many who have since taken their talents to the NFL.
Again, it’s safe to say that #MACtion is alive. It is also definitely well.
That also makes the task of putting together a preseason All-Conference team in this league quite challenging. In some conferences its tough finding qualified candidates to fill all 24 roster slots; in the MAC, we had no choice but to leave a number of qualified candidates off.
Either way, here’s our best attempt to pick the 2013 All-MAC First Team, and to do it May.
Wish us luck and as always, you’re more than welcome to share your opinions in the comments section below.
Offense:
QB: Jordan Lynch, senior, Northern Illinois (3,138 yards passing, 25 touchdowns; 1,815 yards, 19 touchdowns)
RB: David Fluellen, senior, Toledo (1,498 yards, 13 touchdowns)
RB: Dri Archer, senior, Kent State (1,429 yards, 16 touchdowns)
WR: Bernard Reedy, senior, Toledo (88 catches, 1,113 yards, six touchdowns)
WR: Willie Snead, junior, Ball State (89 catches, 1,148 yards, nine touchdowns)
TE: Zane Fakes, senior, Ball State (57 catches, 851 yards, five touchdowns)
OL: Tyler Loos, junior, Northern Illinois
OL: Jordan Hansel, senior, Ball State
OL: Greg Mancz, junior, Toledo
OL: Dominic Flewellyn, senior, Bowling Green
OL: Zac Kerin, senior, Toledo
Defense:
DL: Roosevelt Nix, senior, Kent State (56 tackles, 13 TFL’s, six sacks)
DL: Jonathan Newsome, senior, Ball State (51 tackles, 12 TFL’s, 8.5 sacks)
DL: Joe Windsor, senior, Northern Illinois (24 tackles, 10.5 TFL’s, seven sacks)
DL: Colby Way, senior, Buffalo (28 tackles, 10.5 TFL’s, seven sacks)
LB: Justin Cherocci, junior, Central Michigan (132 tackles, 2.5 TFL’s)
LB: Gabe Martin, junior, Bowling Green (70 tackles, 8.5 TFL’s, 4.5 sacks)
LB: Khalil Mack, senior, Buffalo (94 tackles, 20 TFL’s, eight sacks)
DB: Dayonne Nunley, senior, Miami (OH) (42 tackles, four TFL’s, three interceptions)
DB: Johnnie Simon, senior, Western Michigan (103 tackles, one interception)
DB: Jimmy Ward, senior, Northern Illinois (104 tackles, three interceptions)
DB: Luke Wollet, senior, Kent State (119 tackles, four interceptions)
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