MAC Football 2021 All-Conference Team
The 2021 All-MAC team is led by 17 selections from Central Michigan, while Ball State (14), Western Michigan (13) and Toledo (12) also hit double-digit picks. Eastern Michigan (11) and Kent State (10) headline the next tier of teams with the most picks on the MAC All-Conference Team for '21.
Athlon Sports has released its top 25 for 2021. 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 2021.
An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2021. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2021 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year. Also, team strength does not play a role in selections. These are the best individual players at each position in the league for '21.
MAC Football 2021 All-Conference Team
First-Team Offense
QB Dustin Crum, Kent State
RB Kevin Marks, Buffalo
RB Bryant Koback, Toledo
AP/RB De'Montre Tuggle, Ohio
WR Justin Hall, Ball State
WR Tyrice Richie, Northern Illinois
TE Ryan Luehrman, Ohio
C Bryce Harris, Toledo
OL Derek Smith, Central Michigan
OL Mike Caliendo, Western Michigan
OL Jake Fuzak, Buffalo
OL Bill Kuduk, Kent State
OL Mike Novitsky, Buffalo* (entered transfer portal)
First-Team Defense
DL Taylor Riggins, Buffalo
DL Troy Hairston, Central Michigan
DL Ralph Holley, Western Michigan
DL Desjuan Johnson, Toledo
LB Troy Brown, Central Michigan
LB James Patterson, Buffalo
LB Brandon Martin, Ball State
CB Noski LaFleur, Eastern Michigan
CB Samuel Womack, Toledo
S Bryce Cosby, Ball State
S Tycen Anderson, Toledo
First-Team Specialists
K Marshall Meeder, Central Michigan
P Luke Elzinga, Central Michigan
KR Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois
PR Ron Cook, Buffalo
Second-Team Offense
QB Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan
RB La'Darius Jefferson, Western Michigan
RB Lew Nichols, Central Michigan
AP/WR Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan
WR Jack Sorenson, Miami
WR Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
TE Bryson Cannon, Eastern Michigan
C Brayden Patton, Northern Illinois
OL Mark Brooks, Western Michigan
OL Curtis Blackwell, Ball State
OL Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
OL Nathan Monnin, Kent State
Second-Team Defense
DL Ali Fayad, Western Michigan
DL Kameron Butler, Miami
DL Turan Rush, Eastern Michigan
DL Jamal Hines, Toledo
DL Eddie Wilson, Buffalo* (entered transfer portal)
LB Christian Albright, Ball State
LB Bubba Arslanian, Akron
LB Kadofi Wright, Buffalo
CB Jordan Gandy, Northern Illinois
CB Amechi Uzodinma, Ball State
S Bricen Garner, Western Michigan
S Willie Reid, Central Michigan
Second-Team Specialists
K Chad Ryland, Eastern Michigan
P Jake Julien, Eastern Michigan
KR De'Montre Tuggle, Ohio
PR Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan
Third-Team Offense
QB Drew Plitt, Ball State
RB Teon Dollard, Akron
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RB Kobe Lewis, Central Michigan
WR/AP Ja'Shaun Poke, Kent State
WR Isaiah Winstead, Toledo
WR Yo'Heinz Tyler, Ball State
TE Andrew Homer, Miami
C Mike Van Hoeven, Eastern Michigan
OL Hagen Meservy, Ohio
OL Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
OL Nick Rosi, Toledo
OL Kaleb Slaven, Ball State
Third-Team Defense
DL LaQuan Johnson, Central Michigan
DL Zayin West, Kent State
DL Will Evans, Ohio
DL Terrance Taylor, Toledo
LB Terry Myrick, Eastern Michigan
LB Kyle Pugh, Northern Illinois
LB Anthony Ekpe, Ball State
CB Elvis Hines, Kent State
CB Dishon McNary, Central Michigan
S Keith Sherald, Kent State
S Sterling Weatherford, Miami
S A.J. Watts, Akron
Third-Team Specialists
K John Richardson, Northern Illinois
P Nick Mihalic, Western Michigan
KR Justin Hall, Ball State
PR Jalen Walker, Miami
Fourth-Team Offense
QB Preston Hutchinson, Eastern Michigan
RB Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
RB Marquez Cooper, Kent State
RB Jaylon Bester, Miami
WR Jaylen Hall, Western Michigan
WR JaCorey Sullivan, Central Michigan
WR Bryce Mitchell, Toledo
WR Hassan Beydoun, Eastern Michigan
WR Isiah Cox, Ohio
OL Adam Gregoire, Kent State
OL Marques Cox, Northern Illinois
OL Luke Goedeke, Central Michigan
OL Logan Zschernitz, Northern Illinois
OL Caleb Shaffer, Miami
OL Kurt Danneker, Ohio
Fourth-Team Defense
DL Lonnie Phelps, Miami
DL Braden Fiske, Western Michigan
DL Chris Agyemang, Ball State
DL Robi Stuart, Central Michigan
DL Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
LB Mandela Lawrence-Burke, Kent State
LB Darren Anders, Bowling Green
LB Ryan McWood, Miami
LB Jaylin Thomas, Ball State
CB Aapri Washington, Buffalo
CB Devonni Reed, Central Michigan
CB Freddie McGee, Eastern Michigan
S Jarren Hampton, Ohio
S Nate Bauer, Toledo
S A.J. Thomas, Western Michigan
Fourth-Team Specialists
K Nate Needham, Bowling Green
P Nathan Snyder, Ball State
KR Ron Cook, Buffalo
PR Ronnie Blackmon, Toledo
Total Selections on Athlon's 2021 All-MAC Team
Team | Number of Selections |
Akron | 3 |
Ball State | 14 |
Bowling Green | 3 |
Buffalo | 8 |
Central Michigan | 17 |
Eastern Michigan | 11 |
Kent State | 10 |
Miami (Ohio) | 9 |
Northern Illinois | 8 |
Ohio | 9 |
Toledo | 12 |
Western Michigan | 13 |
Podcast: Top 25 Breakdown and Predictions
(Dustin Crum photo courtesy of kentstatesports.com)