The Ypsilanti Eleven's All-MAC Teams of 2023

The first-ever All-MAC Teams listings from this site to commemorate the 2023 season.

Image via Eastern Michigan Athletics

While the conference and other media outlets have their own all-conference listings, this is the first-ever All-MAC Teams post from The Ypsilanti Eleven. This is an exercise I’ve been wanting to get somewhat serious about for a while now, and I’ve already gotten things started with an All-MAC team for the mid-season report.

Now that the season’s over, it’s time for the final tally.

I know that the MAC released its own coach-approved lists yesterday, but below are the results for *my* All-MAC teams.

As a quick methodology for some transparency, I’m very much at the mercy of Pro Football Focus’ stats to dig into some in-depth, advanced stats for all of these players — at skilled positions and in the trenches. Catches and yards are great, but I really care about how many yards players pick up after the catch, yards after contact, yards per route run, and so forth.

For offense, each ‘team’ will have 1 quarterback, 1 running back, 3 wide receivers, 1 tight end, 1 flex (WR/RB/TE) player, and 5 linemen. Unlike the MAC’s coach-decided All-MAC teams, I’m strict about the OL positions, meaning I’ll do three All-MAC left tackles, left guards, etc., rather than filling up the 2nd and 3rd Team lists with the conference’s fifth and sixth-best left tackles. Defensively, each ‘team’ will have 4 linemen (2 interior, 2 ends), 2 linebackers, 3 safeties, 2 cornerbacks, and 1 additional flex player for balance’s sake.

Offense

Quarterback, First Team: Dequan Finn (Toledo)

Second Team QB: Brett Gabbert (Miami)

Third Team QB: Kurtis Rourke (Ohio)

Running backs: Peny Boone (Toledo) & Terion Stewart (Bowling Green)

Second Team RBs: Antario Brown (Northern Illinois), Marquez Cooper (Ball State)

Third Team RB: Jalen Buckley (Western Michigan)

Wide receivers: Kenneth Womack (Western Michigan), Gage Larvadain (Miami), Crishon McCray (Kent State)

Second Team WRs: Miles Cross (Ohio), Trayvon Rudolph (Northern Illinois), Sam Wiglusz (Ohio)

Third Team WRs: Marlyn Johnson (Buffalo), Jurjuan Newton (Toledo), Jesse Prewitt III (Central Michigan), Junior Vandeross III (Toledo)

Tight end: Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green)

Second Team TE: Anthony Torres (Toledo)

Third Team TE: Grayson Barnes (Northern Illinois)

Offensive line: LT Nick Rosi (Toledo), LG Vinny Sciury (Toledo), C Jacob Gideon (Western Michigan), RG Addison West (Western Michigan), RT Nolan Potter (Northern Illinois)

Second Team OL: LT Corey Stewart (Ball State), LG Kurt Danneker (Ohio), C Pete Nygra (Northern Illinois), RG John Champe (Northern Illinois), RT Brian Dooley (Eastern Michigan)

Third Team OL: LT Jay Amburgey (Ohio), LG Jon Mucciolo (Ball State), C Dominic Serapiglia III (Central Michigan), RG Taran Teo (Ball State), RT Reid Holskey (Miami OH)

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Defense

Defensive ends: Sidney Houston Jr. (Ball State), C.J. Nunnally IV (Akron),

Second Team DE: Brian Ugwu (Miami OH), Caiden Woullard (Miami OH)

Third Team DE: Cashius Howell (Bowling Green), Marshawn Kneeland (Western Michigan), Max Michel (Buffalo)

Interior D-line: Rayyan Buell (Ohio), Judge Culpepper (Toledo)

Second Team DT: Jacques Bristol (Central Michigan), C.J. West (Kent State)

Third Team DT: Darius Alexander (Toledo), James Ester (Northern Illinois)

Linebackers: Bryce Houston (Ohio), Matt Salopek (Miami OH), Joe Sparacio (EMU)

Second Team LB: Darren Anders (Bowling Green), Chase Kline (Eastern Michigan), Cole Pearce (Ball State)

Third Team LB: Dallas Gant (Toledo), Red Murdock (Buffalo)

Safties: Devin Grant (Buffalo), Bryce Sheppert (Kent State), Tate Hallock (WMU),

Second Team S: Jordan Riley (Ball State), Damari Robertson (Western Michigan), Aaron Wofford (Western Michigan)

Third Team S: Maxen Hook (Toledo), Kerry Martin Jr. (Akron), Jacquez Warren (Miami OH)

Cornerbacks: Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo), Keni-H Lovely (Western Michigan)

Second Team CB: Raion Strader (Miami OH), Jalen Huskey (Bowling Green)

Third Team CB: Davon Ferguson (Bowling Green), Donte Kent (Central Michigan)

Special Teams

Kicker: Graham Nicholson (Miami OH)

Second Team K: Andrew Glass (Kent State)

Third Team K: Alex McNulty (Buffalo)

Punter: Mitch Tomasek (Eastern Michigan)

Second Team P: Alec Bevelhimer (Miami OH)

Third Team P: Tom Foley (Northern Illinois)

Returns: Jacquez Stuart (Toledo)

Second Team RET: Hamze El-Zayat (Eastern Michigan)

Third Team RET: Xavier Williams (Kent State)

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