It's that time of year. Who in OUr team will be recognized? In looking at the league leaders it seems that our defense is so well-rounded that in terms of tackles we don't have a Top 10 guy but still, here are my thoughts:

COY: Albin

OFFENSE
Tyus: 1st Team
Owen: 1st Team
Titsworth: 1st Team
Navarro: 3rd Team
Atkinson: 3rd Team

DEFENSE
Walker-Burgess: 2nd Team
Weaver: 1st Team
Johnson: 3rd Team
Taylor: 3rd Team
Parodie: 1st Team
Pearson: 3rd Team

SPECIALS
Spetic: 2nd Team

Ha. I'd take one for Leake, Tyus and Dustin Johnson as well.

Forgot to add Leake also (third teamer?)

Totally agree! When we win the MAC C-Ship and Parker has a good to great game-he would and should be MAC PoY. What a team this staff has put together meshing the returners with the transfer portal guys!!!!! Albin should be coach of the year too and staff...... if there is such a thing, staff of the year! MACtion is fantastic!!! Goooo Bobcats!!!!

Nah I just thought 98 was lowballing Parker. I’m not sure how 4-time MAC POTW —including three of the last four—would be third string, but I guess we will see.

You’re right. There was a gap between those but that was due to beginning of MACtion. He won after EMU, Toledo and Ball…our last three games.

Parker has been on fire, there's no doubt that. But no matter how the awards play out, the BEST offensive player in the MAC is BG's Harold Fannin. He's probably the best player in the MAC overall for that matter as well. He's one of the best players I have seen in the MAC in all the years I've been following the MAC and I never, ever thought I would say that about a TE. I can't even image the kind of numbers he'd be able to produce on those BG teams a decade ago when they were killing it. The fact he's produced the way he has with what he has around him and the attention he draws is just ridiculously good. I know the MAC POY usually centers around a QB/RB/WR mold, but Fannin is a pro playing in the MAC. There's no one better than him IMO.

He leads the MAC in rushing TD so that certainly will help, but I imagine it would give voters some pause to give a QB who is 11th in pass TD in a 12 team conference anything more than 3rd team QB.

9th in pass yards
5th in QB rating.
Tied 1st in INT.

Semonza and Gabbert are probably fighting for 1-2. Bazelak and Gleason have a good case for 3rd as well. I can see Parker 3rd, maybe even 2nd bc our record is better than expected, but I wouldn't be shocked if he was on the outside looking in.


And Fanin is POTY.

It may be given to Gabbert so he leaves and doesn't try for a 7th year. Fannin is probably the best player but no way he wins over a QB.

Fiami loses some key veteran players in many positions. Martin may need to bail.

Correct. The QBR rating system was invented in 2006, and that is as far back as data goes. As far as the usefulness of the rating system, the problem with it is that it is "opaque". The data is computed by some arcane scoring system that is not possible for a fan to really understand, as it supposedly includes obscure things like, not only how good a play was, but how important it was. Since we can't compute it on our own, people are uncomfortable with it, and you don't see it cited often.

I do think that QBR has some usefulness precisely because it also includes thing like runs, penalties (e.g. grounding), and sacks, things that are in fact important. In the end, though, does it match up with how we intuitively grade quarterbacks? I think we'd all agree with the QBR that the best four years of quarterbacking were Nathan's three years, plus Kurtis in 2022, before his injury. I think we'd all agree that Parker had a great year, a year that was at least comparable to any year Tettleton had.

But, what about some of the other numbers? As you point out, the grade for Vick is "interesting", as it doesn't necessarily jibe with our memories. Looking at that grade in particular, I went back and looked that the individual games from 2014. Vick played very well in 3 of the four non-conference games (he struggled at Kentucky), but then was injured late in the first half against Idaho (a DL rolled over his knee after a pass attempt, if I recall). His grades pre-injury were outstanding, and would have been over 70, putting him in Nathan range. He didn't play again until the last four games. After his injury, he really was never the same again, and that's the Vick we remember. The rest of his career he graded 45-50, which is pretty much an average score for the MAC, but not close to Nathan level.

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/12/4/mac-announces-2...

10 Bobcats named all-conference! Coach Albin wins Coach of the Year!

2024 MAC Football Postseason Specialty Awards & All-Conference Teams
Coach of the Year: Tim Albin, Ohio
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Offensive Player of the Year: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Defensive Player of the Year: Shaun Dolac, LB, Buffalo
Special Teams Player of the Year: Malcolm Gillie, KR, Ball State
Freshman of the Year: Kadin Semonza, QB, Ball State

2024 All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Brett Gabbert, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Alex Wollschlaeger, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Reid Holskey, Miami
Offensive Lineman – J.J. Lippe, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Addison West, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
Tight End – Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Javon Tracy, Miami
Wide Receiver – Coleman Owen, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Junior Vandeross III, Toledo
Running Back – Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
Running Back – Jaden Nixon, Western Michigan
Placekicker – Dom Dzioban, Miami

2024 All-MAC First Team Defense
Down Lineman – CJ Nunnally, Akron
Down Lineman – Brian Ugwu, Miami
Down Lineman – Devonte O’Malley, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Bradley Weaver, Ohio
Linebacker – Joseph Sipp Jr., Bowling Green
Linebacker – Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
Linebacker – Red Murdock, Buffalo
Linebacker – Matt Salopek, Miami
Defensive Back – Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Raion Strader, Miami
Defensive Back – Nate Valcarcel, Northern Illinois
Defensive Back – Maxen Hook, Toledo
Punter – Avery Book, Akron

2024 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Malcolm Gillie, Ball State
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jacquez Stuart, Toledo

2024 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Parker Navarro, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jon Mucciolo, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Brayden Swartout, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – John Champe, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Logan Zschernitz, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Parker Titsworth, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Carson Heidecker, Ohio
Tight End – Tanner Koziol, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Adrian Norton, Akron
Wide Receiver – Oran Singleton, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Chrishon McCray, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Reggie Virgil, Miami
Running Back – Keyon Mozee, Miami
Running Back – Anthony Tyus III, Ohio
Placekicker – Jesus Gomez, Eastern Michigan

2024 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Down Lineman – Kobe Stewart, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Corey Suttle, Miami
Down Lineman – Roy Williams, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Darius Alexander, Toledo
Linebacker – Bryan McCoy, Akron
Linebacker – Jordan Kwiatkowski, Central Michigan
Linebacker – James Djonkam, Eastern Michigan
Linebacker – Ty Wise, Miami
Defensive Back – Donte Kent, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – DJ Walker, Ohio
Defensive Back – Avery Smith, Toledo
Defensive Back – Tate Hallock, Western Michigan
Punter – John Henderson, Bowling Green

2024 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Donte Kent, Central Michigan
Punt Return Specialist – Bryson Hammer, Toledo

2024 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – Connor Bazelak, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Ethan Crowe, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Taran Tyo, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Trevor Brock, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Tyler Doty, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Ethan Spoth, Toledo
Tight End – Blake Bosma, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Cam Pickett, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Victor Snow, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Terry Lockett, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Luke Floriea, Kent State
Running Back – Al-Jay Henderson, Buffalo
Running Back – Marion Lukes, Central Michigan
Placekicker – Upton Bellenfant, Buffalo

2024 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Down Lineman – Brandon Berger, Ball State
Down Lineman – Anthony Hawkins, Bowling Green
Down Lineman – Dion Crawford, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Skyler Gill-Howard, Northern Illinois
Linebacker – Shay Taylor, Ohio
Linebacker – Blake Leake, Ohio
Linebacker – Daniel Bolden, Toledo
Linebacker – Donald Willis, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Paul Lewis III, Akron
Defensive Back – Jacorey Benjamin, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Eli Blakey, Miami
Defensive Back – JaVaughn Byrd, Northern Illinois
Punter – Ethan Duane, Buffalo

2024 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – DaShawn Martin, Kent State
Kickoff Return Specialist – Coleman Owen, Ohio

I am ok with this list outside of us needing another DB to get recognition outside of DJ. Perhaps Roman or Dustin. But overall, I'll take it.

From just two players on preseason lists to 10.

Damn good year.

Preseason MAC Football Team Honors for 2024
Player of the Year
John Champe, OG, Northern Illinois
Offensive Player of the Year
John Champe, OG, Northern Illinois
Defensive Player of the Year
Raion Strader, DB, Miami
Coach of the Year
Chuck Martin, Miami

Preseason First-Team All-MAC Offense
QB: Brett Gabbert, Miami
RB: Marion Lukes, Central Michigan
RB: Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan
WR: Chrishon McCray, Kent State
WR: Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
WR: Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois
TE: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
FLEX: Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
OT: Jack Sherwin, Western Michigan
OG: Addison West, Western Michigan
OC: Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
OG: John Champe, Northern Illinois
OT: Reid Holskey, Miami

Preseason Second-Team All-MAC Offense
QB: Bert Emanuel Jr., Central Michigan
RB: Antario Brown, Northern Illinois
RB: Jacquez Stuart, Toledo
WR: Kenneth Womack, Western Michigan
WR: Junior Vandeross III, Toledo
WR: Jesse Prewitt III, Central Michigan
TE: Anthony Torres, Toledo
FLEX: Camden Orth, Bowling Green
OT: Will Jados, Miami
OG: Jon Mucciolo, Ball State
OC: Parker Titsworth, Ohio
OG: J.J. Lippe, Northern Illinois
OT: Mickey Rewolinski, Eastern Michigan

Preseason Third-Team All-MAC Offense
QB: Connor Bazelak, Bowling Green
RB: Gavin Williams, Northern Illinois
RB: Gavin Garcia, Kent State
WR: Tyson Davis, Central Michigan
WR: Andrew McElroy, Northern Illinois
WR: Coleman Owen, Ohio
TE: Grayson Barnes, Northern Illinois
FLEX: Tanner Koziol, Ball State
OT: Brayden Swartout, Central Michigan
OG: Taran Tyo, Ball State
OC: Dominic Serapiglia III, Central Michigan
OG: Jake Burns, Bowling Green
OT: Evan Malcore, Northern Illinois

Seven first team players for Miami compared to two for Ohio. So much for the individuals; time to see which is the better team.