Athlon projects the best of the MAC for 2018.
Ohio is likely to begin the 2018 college football season as the favorite to win the MAC title, so it’s no surprise Frank Solich’s team features plenty of candidates for all-conference honors. The Bobcats have 14 players selected on Athlon Sports’ 2018 All-MAC team, which is the most of any team in the league. Miami (Ohio) and Toledo are tied for second with 13 selections, followed by Central Michigan (11) and Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan and Buffalo tied with nine.
Athlon Sports has released its top 25 for 2018. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best and honor the top players in the league with a release of first, second, third and fourth all-conference teams for 2018.
An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2018. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2018 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.
MAC Football 2018 All-Conference Team
|
First-Team Offense |
Second-Team Offense |
Third-Team Offense |
Fourth-Team Offense |
|
| QB |
Nathan Rourke Ohio |
Gus Ragland Miami |
Tyree Jackson Buffalo |
Marcus Childers Northern Illinois |
| RB |
James Gilbert Ball State |
Shakif Seymour Toledo |
Kenny Young Miami |
Alonzo Smith Miami |
| RB |
A.J. Ouellette Ohio |
Jamauri Bogan Western Michigan |
Caleb Huntley Ball State |
Art Thompkins Toledo |
| AP |
Jonathan Ward (RB) Central Michigan |
Andrew Clair (RB) Bowling Green |
Justin Hall (WR) Ball State |
Johnathan Hawkins (RB) Buffalo |
| WR |
Anthony Johnson Buffalo |
James Gardner Miami |
Scott Miller Bowling Green |
Ian Eriksen (RB) Eastern Michigan |
| WR |
Diontae Johnson Toledo |
Cody Thompson Toledo |
Papi White Ohio |
Jon'Vea Johnson Toledo |
| TE |
Tyler Mabry Buffalo |
Logan Hessbrook Central Michigan |
Nolan Given Ball State |
Brandon Childress (WR) Central Michigan |
| C |
John Keenoy Western Michigan |
James O'Hagan Buffalo |
Luke Shively Northern Illinois |
Dakota Tallman Eastern Michigan |
| OL |
Joe Anderson Ohio |
Luke Juriga Western Michigan |
Bryce Harris Toledo |
Yazeed Atariwa Toledo |
| OL |
Joe Lowery Ohio |
Jordan Rigg Miami |
Hagen Meservy Ohio |
Mike Caliendo Western Michigan |
| OL |
Max Scharping Northern Illinois |
Jordan Steckler Northern Illinois |
Lorenzo Taborn Bowling Green |
Evin Ksiezarczyk Buffalo |
| OL |
Jimmy Leatiota Eastern Michigan |
Sam McCollum Miami |
Kyle Ritz Akron |
Shakir Carr Central Michigan |
|
First-Team Defense |
Second-Team Defense |
Third-Team Defense |
Fourth-Team Defense |
|
| DL |
Sutton Smith Northern Illinois |
Mike Danna Central Michigan |
Nate Trawick Miami |
Nick Faulkner Kent State |
| DL |
Maxx Crosby Eastern Michigan |
Doug Costin Miami |
Will Evans Ohio |
Ben Leroy Northern Illinois |
| DL |
Jeremiah Harris Eastern Michigan |
Chuck Harris Buffalo |
David Konowalski Bowling Green |
Ali Fayad Western Michigan |
| DL |
Jamal Davis Akron |
Nathan Brisson-Fast Central Michigan |
Nate Childress Toledo |
Kyle Pugh (LB) Northern Illinois |
| LB |
Khalil Hodge Buffalo |
Evan Croutch Ohio |
Brandon Harris Bowling Green |
Tyler Taafe Toledo |
| LB |
Ulysees Gilbert Akron |
Brad Koenig Miami |
Junior McMullen Miami |
Kyle Rachwal Eastern Michigan |
| LB |
Jim Jones Kent State |
Malik Fountain Central Michigan |
Alex Briones Central Michigan |
Jacob White Ball State |
| CB |
Sam Beal Western Michigan |
Kyron Brown Akron |
Cameron Lewis Buffalo |
Deondre Daniels Miami |
| CB |
Sean Bunting Central Michigan |
Jalen Fox Ohio |
Jamal Parker Kent State |
Albert Smalls Northern Illinois |
| S |
Brody Hoying Eastern Michigan |
Vince Calhoun Eastern Michigan |
Kahlil Robinson Toledo |
De'Andre Montgomery Miami |
| S |
Javon Hagan Ohio |
Alvin Davis Akron |
Mykelti Williams Northern Illinois |
Justin Tranquill Western Michigan |
|
First-Team Specialists |
Second-Team Specialists |
Third-Team Specialists |
Fourth-Team Specialists |
|
| K |
Jameson Vest Toledo |
Louie Zervos Ohio |
Sam Sloman Miami |
Paulie Fricano Eastern Michigan |
| P |
Derek Adams Kent State |
Nick Gasser Akron |
Michael Farkas Ohio |
Jack Sheldon Central Michigan |
| KR |
Malik Dunner Ball State |
Diontae Johnson Toledo |
Jerrod Davis Central Michigan |
Julian Ross Ohio |
| PR |
Danzel McKinley-Lewis Toledo |
Papi White Ohio |
Corey Lacanaria Ball State |
Marcus Milton Bowling Green |
Team-by-Team Breakdown of Athlon's 2018 All-MAC Team
| First | Second | Third | Fourth | |
|
Akron
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Ball State
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Bowling Green
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Buffalo
|
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Central Michigan
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Eastern Michigan
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Kent State
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Miami
|
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 4 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Northern Illinois
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 3 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Ohio
|
Offense: 4 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 2 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
|
Toledo
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 2 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 1 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 3 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
|
Western Michigan
|
Offense: 1 Defense: 1 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 2 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 0 Defense: 0 Special Teams: 0 |
Offense: 1 Defense: 2 Special Teams: 0 |
(Nathan Rourke photo courtesy of Ohio University Athletics; Ulysees Gilbert photo courtesy of Jeff Harwell/University of Akron)
