Three Players Earn All-MAC Honors

CLEVELAND, Ohio –– Eastern Michigan University senior wide receiver Eric Deslauriers and senior place kicker Andrew Wellock were named first-team All Mid-American Conference in voting conducted by the league’s coaches. Junior defensive end Jason Jones earned second-team accolades.

Deslauriers earns the honor for the first time in his career, and becomes the first Eagle wide receiver to earn first team honors since Kevin Walter did some in 2002. The Gatineau, Quebec native completed his EMU career with school records for touchdown receptions (27), receptions (248) and receiving yards (3,250). Deslauriers ranks fifth in Mid-American Conference history for career receptions (248) and is eighth in league history in receiving yards (3,250). He also ranks seventh in EMU history in career scoring (168).

Named to the 2005 and 2006 Fred Biletnikoff Award Watch list, which goes to the top receiver in the NCAA Division 1 ranks, Deslauriers has turned in 14 career 100-yard reception games and caught passes in 35 consecutive games. The last game he was held without a reception was. Oct. 4, 2003, at home against Western Michigan.

Wellock garners the honor for the third consecutive season. One of top place-kickers in the nation for four straight years, Wellock has set all of EMU’s kicking records and finished his collegiate career ranked second on the Mid-American Conference career field goal record list with 69, trailing leader Steve Azar (NIU 2000-03) who had 73.

The Green, Ohio native was a regular on the Lou Groza Award list all four years, finishing runner-up in 2004 and was one of the 20 semifinalist for the 2006 award. Wellock made 69-of-87 career field goal attempts and had 20 career kicks from 40 yards or beyond. He complete his EMU career as the all-time scoring leader with 299 points and ranks seventh in MAC career kick scoring.

Jones is recognized for the first team in his career, after turning in an outstanding year at defensive tackle. The Southfield, Mich. native finished fifth in the nation in tackles-for-loss with 18.5-for-71 yards. He started 11 games in 2006, missing just the Louisiana Lafayette game (Sept. 30) with an injury. Jones accumulated 57 total tackles to rank sixth on the team. He tied for the team lead in sacks with four-for-31 yards.

2006 Mid-American Conference Football Postseason Awards

First Team All-MAC Offense
Wide Receiver – Eric Deslauriers, EMU, Sr., Gatineau, Quebec
Placekicker – Andrew Wellock, EMU, Sr., Canton, Ohio
Center – Kory Lichtensteiger, Bowling Green, Sr., Van Wert, Ohio
Lineman – Joe Staley, Central Michigan, Sr., Rockford, Mich.
Lineman – Doug Free, Northern Illinois, Sr., Manitowoc, Wis.
Lineman – Matt Coppage, Ohio, Sr., Walton, Ky.
Lineman - John Greco, Toledo, Jr., Youngstown, Ohio
Tight End – Chris Hopkins, Toledo, Sr., Chicago, Ill.
Wide Receiver – Ryne Robinson, Miami, Sr., Toledo, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan, Fr., Rockford, Mich.
Quarterback – Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan, Fr., Downers Gorve, Ill.
Runningback – Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois, Sr., Chicago, Ill.
Runningback – Kalvin McRae, Ohio, Jr., Decatur, Ga.
Runningback – Jalen Parmele, Toledo, Jr., Midland, Mich.

First Team All-MAC Defense
Outside Linebacker – Mike Alston, Toledo, Sr., Columbus, Ohio
Outside Linebacker – Ameer Ismail, Western Michigan, Sr., Holland, Mich.
Inside Linebacker – Matt Muncy, Ohio, Sr., Miamisburg, Ohio
Inside Linebacker – Red Keith, Central Michigan, Sr., Franklin, Ga.
Down Lineman – Devon Parks, Bowling Green,Sr., Libertyville, Ill.
Down Lineman – Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan, Sr., McBain, Mich.
Down Lineman – Dan Muir, Kent State, Sr., Lanham, Md.
Down Lineman – Larry English, Northern Illinois, So., Aurora, Ill.
Defensive Back – Joey Card, Miami, Sr., Canton, Ohio
Defensive Back – T.J. Wright, Ohio, Sr., Beaumont, Texas
Defensive Back – Barry Church, Toledo, Fr., Pittsbrugh, Pa.
Defensive Back – Londen Fryar, Western Michigan, Jr., Jobstown, N.J
Punter – Chris Miller, Ball State, Jr., Libertyville, Ill.

Second Team All-MAC Offense
Center – Drew Mormino, Central Michigan, Sr., Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Lineman – Chris Kemme, Akron, So., Upper Arlington, Ohio
Lineman – Andrew Hartline, Central Michigan, Jr., Baroda, Mich.
Lineman – Eric Tunney, Central Michigan, Sr., Alger, Mich.
Lineman – Dominic Moran, Western Michigan, Sr., Rochester Hills, Mich.
Tight End – Brandon Ledbetter, WMU, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Wide Receiver – David Harvey, Akron, Fr., Penn Hills, Pa.
Wide Receiver – Dante Love, Ball State, So., Cincinnati, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Najah Pruden, Kent State, Sr., Burlington, N.J.
Quarterback – Julian Edelman, Kent State, So., Redwood City, Calif.
Running Backs – Dennis Kennedy, Akron, So., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Runningback – James Starks, Buffalo, Fr., Niagar Falls, N.Y.
Running Backs – Mark Bonds, Western Michigan, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Placekicker – Brian Jackson, Ball State, Sr., Dothan, Ala.

Second Team All-MAC Defense
Lineman – Jason Jones, EMU, Jr., Southfield, Mich.
Outside Linebacker – Cortlan Booker, Ball State, Sr., West Lafayette, Ind.
Outside Linebacker - Tyler Russ, Ohio, Sr., Stetsonville, Wis.
Inside Linebacker – Terrel White, Bowling Green, Sr., Wooster, Ohio
Inside Linebacker – Joey Hudson, Miami, So., Piqua, Ohio
Lineman – Steven Friend, Central Michigan, Jr., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Lineman – Landon Cohen, Ohio, Jr., Spartanburg, S.C.
Lineman – Jameson Hartke, Ohio, So., Centerville, Ohio
Defensive Back – Erik Keys, Ball State, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Defensive Back – Usama Young, Kent State, Sr., Largo, Md.
Defensive Back – Andre Kirkland, Kent State, Sr., Upper Marlboro, Md.
Defensive Back – Dustin Utschig, Northern Illinois, Sr., Winneconne, Wis.
Punter – Tony Muikulec, Central Michigan, Sr., Highland, Mich.

Honorable Mention
Tight End - Darius Hill, Ball State, Jr., Blue Spring, Mo.
Placekicker - Chris Nendick, Northern Illinois, Jr., Naperville, Ill.
Quarterback - Luke Getsy, Akron, Sr., Munhall, Pa.
Inside Linebacker - Doug Kress, Central Michigan, Sr., Lapeer, Mich.
Wide Receiver - Britt Davis, Northern Illinois, So., Broadview, Ill.
Inside Linebacker - Tim McCarthey, Northern Illinois, So., Neenah, Wis.

Specialty Awards
Coach of the Year – Frank Solich, Ohio
Offensive Player of the Year – Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois
Defensive Player of the Year – Ameer Ismail, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year – Jeff LeFevour, Central Michigan
Special Teams Player of the Year – Brian Jackson, Ball State
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner - Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois

Note – The All-MAC team was voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches. The specialty awards were voted on by the MAC News Media Association. The first-team and second team offense are comprised of 28 selections, the first-team and second team defense 26 selections, and honorable mention six selections for a total of 60 all-MAC student-athletes. The Vern Smith Leadership Award was voted by a panel comprised of league head coaches and a select group of media representatives.

Specialty Award Voting:
Vern Smith Leadership Award: Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois (15); Dan Bazuin, central Michigan (8); Jeff Bublavi, Buffalo (2); Ryne Robinson, Miami (2); Tyler Russ, Ohio (1).

MNMA Awards
(only those with a minimum of 5 votes listed. 39 total votes)

Coach of the Year:
Frank Solich, Ohio (21); Brian Kelly, Central Michigan (17).

Offensive Player of the Year:
Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois (33).

Defensive Player of the Year:
Ammer Ismail, Western Michigan (35).

Freshman of the Year:
Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan (15); Nate Davis, Ball State (11); Barry Church, Toledo (7).

Special Teams Player of the Year:
Brian Jackson, Ball State (12); Matt Lasher, Ohio (5).

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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