All MAC teams released...

[timmyboy]

Jabari Arthur (WR) and Reggie Corner (DB) were each tabbed first team. Brion Stokes (LB), Chris Kemme (OL) and Almondo Sewell (DL) were each named to the second team with John Mackey (DB), Bryan Williams (both RB and KR) and Kevin Grant (LB) receiving third team honors. (Complete All MAC list is listed at bottom of page)Jabari Arthur (Montreal, Quebec/Vanier Prep) had an All-American-type season, setting nearly every receiving record in the Akron record book. His trek to the record-setting season received a big boost in week six when he set UA single-game records with 15 receptions for 223 yards in the Zips’ win at Western Michigan. He additionally caught three touchdowns in the contest as he was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week and was named a weekly all-star on ESPN’s College Football Live. Arthur finished the season with a school-record 86 receptions (11 more than the previous record) and 1,171 yards, which is second on the UA single-season list and 39 yards shy of the school record. His 10 touchdowns led all MAC receivers and ranks second on the UA single-season list. This season, Arthur caught at least at least seven passes in a game six times and broke the 100-yard barrier four times. He ranks 11th in the NCAA and third in the MAC in receptions per game (7.17), while ranking 17th in the NCAA and second in the MAC in receiving yards per game (97.58). For his career, Arthur became the school’s all-time leader in both receptions (184) and receiving yards (2,653), while his 17 career TDs ranks third all-time. In the MAC record book, Arthur’s 15 single-game catches is fourth, his 86 single-season catches is 16th, his 184 career catches is 20th, his 223 single-game yards is 17th, his 1,171 single-season yards is 21st and his 2,653 career yards is 20th.Reggie Corner (Canton, Ohio/McKinley HS) started every game for Akron over the past four years and earned first team All-MAC honors after leading the league and ranking fifth in the NCAA in interceptions (0.58 per game). Corner added 12 pass breakups to go along with his seven interceptions to tie teammate Davanzo Tate as the MAC leader in passes defended (1.58), which ranks fifth in the NCAA. His seven picks is the third-best total in the nation to date this season and is fourth on the Akron single-season list. Corner opened the season being named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception 74 yards for a TD in the win over Army. The following week, he had another pick and two pass breakups, one of which led to a Mackey interception. His solid play continued at Indiana, where he had a career-high eight tackles. In Akron’s win over rival Can't State, Corner intercepted a pass and returned it 43 yards to the Can't State two, setting up what proved to be Akron’s game-winning TD. He added two picks in the Temple contest and one each versus Miami and Central Michigan. He also closed the season with six PBU over the final three games, including a career-high four versus the Chippewas. Corner ended his career with 197 tackles (52 in 2007), 15 interceptions and 35 PBU. His 15 career picks ties current NFL defensive back Dwight Smith for second on the Akron all-time list. Also, Corner ranks eighth on the MAC all-time list with his 15 career picks and ranks seventh on the MAC all-time list with his 225 career return yards off interceptions.Brion Stokes (Charlotte, N.C./Butler HS) earns second team All-MAC honors for the second time his career, after being honored in 2005 when he helped the Zips win the MAC title that season. Stokes led the Zips with 90 tackles this season, 17 of which went for losses with 5.5 sacks. His 17 TFL was the most by a Zip since NFL great Jason Taylor had 18 in 1996. He ranks seventh in the MAC and 37th in the NCAA in tackles for losses (1.21 per game), while ranking ninth in the MAC in sacks. Stokes opened the season getting four tackles for losses, including a sack, with a forced fumble in the Zips win over Army. The following week, he accounted for the Zips’ only points thanks to a sack in the first quarter in a 20-2 loss to nationally-ranked Ohio State. In Akron’s win over Can't State, Stokes was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week, getting 10 tackles and recovering a fumble to set up UA’s first TD. Two weeks later in the Zips’ win over Western Michigan, he had a season-high 11 tackles, including three for losses with two sacks. He tied that seasonal-best effort versus Buffalo and logged 10 stops in the Zips’ win over Ohio, including three for losses. For his career, Stokes amassed 272 tackles, the most by a Zip over the last four years, with 13.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. His 45 career tackles for losses eclipsed the 41 which has stood in the Akron record books since Taylor left after playing for the Zips from 1993-96.Chris Kemme (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington HS) earns second team All-MAC honors for the second consecutive season. The 6-6, 300-pound left tackle anchored the Zips offensive line this season and played a key role in Williams giving the Zips their second back on the honorary squad in as many years. While the Zips did not have a 1,000-yard rusher, Williams and Alex Allen combined for 1,148 yards on 252 attempts to average 4.52 yards per rush. More often than not, when the Zips needed a key run, it would be to Kemme’s side. Also, the Zips averaged 127.8 rushing yards per game, the best total in the four-year tenure of head coach J.D. Brookhart. Also, Kemme’s blocking provided the time needed to complete passes to Arthur in his record-setting season.Almondo Sewell (Trenton, N.J./Hargrave Military [Va.] Acad./Trenton Central HS) was one of just three freshmen, either true or redshirted, to be named all-conference. After coming to Akron as a linebacker, he made the move to defensive end due to injuries along the defensive front and his play-making ability. After a slow start to the season -— learning the position, Sewell ended his freshman campaign with 65 tackles, fifth-best on the team, with 14 tackles for losses. Also, in Akron’s eight league games, Sewell had 51 tackles, second-best on the squad. He had at least one TFL in 10 of Akron’s 12 games, including at least one in the final eight games of the season. His 0.83 TFL per game ranked 17th-best in the MAC and his two forced fumbles ranked ninth. He began his break-out season at Indiana, getting five tackles — all assists. The following week versus Can't State, he had six solos stops. Midway through the season, he put up impressive numbers on consecutive weeks to be Akron’s weekly player of the week nominee. In Akron’s win over Western Michigan, he had eight tackles with his two forced fumbles. The following week, he turned in a career-high 11 tackles with two for losses. John Mackey (Uniontown, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit HS) earns his first MAC post-season honor. The defensive captain was on pace to perhaps be a first team honoree, but an injury forced him to miss all or most of five games. The injury — a torn ACL — occurred early in Akron’s win over Can't State and was thought to keep the fifth-year senior off the field the rest of the season. Prior to the injury, Mackey was leading the team with 28 tackles, including nine at Ohio State with a pick and a career-high 13 at Indiana. He additionally had three TFL for minus 22 yards versus the Hoosiers to earn his first MAC East Defensive Player of the Week honor. Although he only played a few snaps versus the Golden flushes, Mackey still had two tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble. He was set to have his career-ending surgery, prior to the Temple game. However, the heart-and-soul of this year’s team decided, after working out and consulting with the medical staff, to return to the field. Mackey saw action in one series at Buffalo, just to see how he would hold up in game situations. The following week, he saw more action at Bowling Green, making six tackles and getting a PBU. He returned to the starting lineup versus Ohio and made nine tackles the following week at Miami. Mackey also had two picks versus the RedHawks, both in the endzone as the Zip defense did not allow any points in the 7-0 loss. Mackey ended his career with 239 tackles, leading the team in tackles in 2006 and ranking second in 2005. He had 20 career TFL, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.Kevin Grant (Herndon, Va./Herndon HS) ranked third on the team with 74 stops. The 2005 Freshman All-American has ranked among the team’s top four in stops each of his first three years, ranking second last season and fourth in 2005. This year, Grant had 11 tackles at Indiana, despite leaving that contest with an injury that slowed the junior the next two games. He also had double digit stops with 10 at Bowling Green Grant had at least one tackle for loss in four of Akron’s last six games, including two each at Buffalo, at Bowling Green and at Miami. Grant has 234 tackles in just three seasons with 33 TFL to his credit.Bryan Williams (Akron, Ohio/Valley Forge [Pa.]/Buchtel HS) burst onto the scene the first play of the 2007 season, returning the opening kickoff 70 yards. He ranks second in the NCAA and first in the MAC with his kick return average of 31.90 yards per return. Williams’ 31.90 yards per return additionally stands as an Akron single-season record and ranks second on the MAC seasonal list (the record is 32.9 by Marshall’s James Williams in 1999). His other big games as a return specialist include two of 117 yards versus Can't State, three for 105 yards at UConn and four for 151 yards versus Ohio. In the win over the Bobcats, Williams returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown and was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week. As a running back, he only had 728 yards on the season. However, he had 612 of those yards in league play, averaging 4.9 yards per carry versus MAC opponents. Although Western Michigan kicked away from Williams, the junior still had a big role in the Zips win, getting 72 yards on 14 rushes (5.1 avg.) and catching three passes for 74 yards with a 60-yard TD. The following week, Williams broke the century mark for the first time, gaining 114 yards on 22 attempts. He capped the season with a career effort, gaining 145 yards on 18 attempts (8.1 avg.) thanks to TD runs of 61 and 56 yards. Williams ended the season 10th in the MAC in rushing yards (60.67 per game) and seventh in all-purpose yards per game (133.50), which also ranks 51st in the NCAA. 2007 All-MAC Football Awards Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Larry English, Northern IllinoisCoach of the Year: Turner Gill, BuffaloOffensive Player of the Year: Dan LeFevour, Central MichiganDefensive Player of the Year: Clayton Mullins, MiamiSpecial Teams Player of the Year: Brett Kern, ToledoFreshman of the Year: Antonio Brown, Central Michigan All-MAC First Team OffenseQuarterback – Dan LeFevour, Central MichiganCenter – Kory Lichtensteiger, Bowling GreenOffensive Lineman – Robert Brewster, Ball StateOffensive Lineman – Matt Miller, OhioOffensive Lineman – John Greco, ToledoOffensive Lineman – James Blair, Western MichiganTight End – Darius Hill, Ball StateWide Receiver – Jabari Arthur, AkronWide Receiver – Dante Love, Ball StateWide Receiver – Jamarko Simmons, Western MichiganRunning Back – Eugene Jarvis, Can't StateRunning Back – Kalvin McRae, OhioRunning Back – Jalen Parmele, ToledoPlacekicker - Michael Braunstein, Ohio All-MAC Second Team OffenseQuarterback – Nate Davis, Ball StateCenter – Jamey Richard, BuffaloOffensive Lineman – Chris Kemme, AkronOffensive Lineman – Drew Nystrom, Bowling GreenOffensive Lineman – Andrew Hartline, Central MichiganOffensive Lineman – Gus Parrish, Can't StateTight End – Andrew Mooney, OhioWide Receiver – Bryan Anderson, Central MichiganWide Receiver – Antonio Brown, Central MichiganWide Receiver – Stephen Williams, ToledoRunning Back – James Starks, BuffaloRunning Back – Justin Anderson, Northern IllinoisRunning Back – Brandon West, Western MichiganPlacekicker - Alex Steigerwald, Toledo All-MAC Third Team OffenseQuarterback – Tyler Sheehan, Bowling GreenCenter – Robbie Krutilla, Western MichiganOffensive Lineman – Jeff Niedermier, BuffaloOffensive Lineman – Eric Tunney, Central MichiganOffensive Lineman – Dave DiFranco, MiamiOffensive Lineman – Jon Brost, Northern IllinoisTight End – Branden Ledbetter, Western MichiganWide Receiver – Freddie Barnes, Bowling GreenWide Receiver – Naaman Roosevelt, BuffaloWide Receiver – Nick Moore, ToledoRunning Back – Bryan Williams, AkronRunning Back – Justin Hoskins, Central MichiganRunning Back – Pierre Walker, Eastern MichiganPlacekicker – Sinisa Vrvilo, Bowling Green All-MAC First Team DefenseOutside Linebacker – Ike Brown, Central MichiganOutside Linebacker – Clayton Mullins, MiamiDown Lineman – Dirayl Briggs, Bowling GreenDown Lineman – Jason Jones, Eastern MichiganDown Lineman – Colin Ferrell, Can't StateDown Lineman – Larry English, Northern IllinoisInside Linebackers – Red Keith, Central MichiganInside Linebackers – Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern MichiganDefensive Back – Reggie Corner, AkronDefensive Back – Davonte Shannon, BuffaloDefensive Back – Barry Church, ToledoDefensive Back – Londen Fryar, Western MichiganPunter – Chris Miller, Ball State All-MAC Second Team DefenseOutside Linebacker – Brion Stokes, Akron Outside Linebacker – Boston McCornell, Western MichiganDown Lineman – Almondo Sewell, AkronDown Lineman – Trevor Scott, BuffaloDown Lineman – Landon Cohen, OhioDown Lineman – Andre Neblett, TempleDown Lineman – Zach Davidson, Western MichiganInside Linebackers – Bryant Haines, Ball StateInside Linebackers – Joe Hudson, MiamiDefensive Back – B.J. Hill, Ball StateDefensive Back – P.J. Mahone, Bowling GreenDefensive Back – Jack Williams, Can't StateDefensive Back – Louis Delmas, Western MichiganPunter – Brett Kern, Toledo All-MAC Third Team DefenseOutside Linebacker – Kareem Byrom, BuffaloOutside Linebacker – Larry Hutchinson, BuffaloDown Lineman – Brandon Crawford, Ball StateDown Lineman – Steven Friend, Central MichiganDown Lineman – Joe Coniglio, MiamiDown Lineman – Jamison Hartke, OhioInside Linebackers – Kevin Grant, AkronInside Linebackers – Derek Burrell, Can't StateDefensive Back – John Mackey, AkronDefensive Back – Alex Knipp, Ball StateDefensive Back – Antonio Smith, Bowling GreenDefensive Back – Dominique Harris, TemplePunter – Jake Richardson, Miami Kick Return SpecialistFirst Team - Antonio Brown, Central MichiganSecond Team – Brandon West, Western MichiganThird Team – Brian Williams, Akron