Eastern Michigan Athletics

FB Graphic: 2023 All-MAC Selections

EMU Football Lands Six on All-MAC Teams

11/29/2023 11:00:00 AM | Football

EMU has had six or more honorees in eight consecutive seasons

CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – For the eighth consecutive year, the Eastern Michigan University football team saw at least six of its student-athletes named to All-Mid-American Conference teams, the league office announced Wednesday, Nov. 29. The All-MAC team and specialty award winners are voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.

Junior punter Mitchell Tomasek (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) earned first-team honors for the second consecutive season, becoming the first EMU punter to do so in back-to-back years. Four additional players, senior offensive lineman Brian Dooley (Bowling Green, Ohio/Toledo St. John's Jesuit), senior wide receiver Tanner Knue (Mason, Ohio/Mason), senior linebacker Joe Sparacio (Naples, Fla./First Baptist Academy/Boston College) and senior running back/returner Jaylon Jackson (Burleson, Texas-Centennial-Lamar) earned second-team nods. Rounding out the accolades, senior linebacker Chase Kline (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon/Michigan State) collected third-team accolades.

A special teams weapon, Tomasek ranked second in the MAC and 20th in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with an average of 45.3 yards per boot. The tally sits second-best in EMU annals, just behind Jake Juilen's 2021 standard of 45.9. Additionally, the Columbus, Ohio, native is third in the FBS with 24 punts inside the 20 while his 2,764 yards of accumulated punts yardage, stands fifth nationally and eighth in EMU single-season history.

All told, Tomasek collected MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors three times in 2023. Tomasek closed the regular season as the only punter in the FBS to record multiple punts of 70-yards or more, including his 72-yarder at Jacksonville State, Sept. 23, and a 70-yarder against Ball State, Oct. 7. Tomasek has amassed 4,923 total yards on 110 career punts for an average of 44.8 per boot. Tomasek became the 15th EMU player to record 4,000+ punting yards in a career when he totaled 186 punting yards against NIU, Oct. 21. Overall, his career average ranks first, just ahead of Julien, who averaged 44.0 per punt (2017-21).

While not officially recognized by the MAC, senior long snapper Steve Bird (Phoenix, Ariz./Sandra Day O'Connor) has now helped Eastern kickers/punters collect seven conference honors – Tomasek 2022-23; Jesús Gómez 2022; Chad Ryland 2020-21; and Jake Julien 2020-21. Bird has been a part of 403 special teams snaps since 2020 according to Pro Football Focus, recording the highest average of his career in 2023 at 77.2.

A cornerstone of Eastern Michigan football since the 2018 season, Dooley again led the Eagles offensive line in the 2023 campaign. Dooley's second-team selection goes down as the third of the graduate student's career, as he earned third-team honors in 2021 before garnering a second-team accolade in 2022.

The 'Iron Man' of EMU football, Dooley holds the school record in both games played and started, with 59 starts and 61 games played, figures that also rank in the top-three on the national scale among active players. On the field for 3,991 career snaps, the Bowling Green, Ohio, product has allowed quarterback pressures on just four percent of his all-time offensive snaps.

As one of the MAC's most prolific tackles, Dooley has earned nominations to many prestigious college football awards including the Wuerffel Trophy, an award presented to college football's top community servant, and the Witten Award, an honor bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.

In his sixth season with the Eagles, Knue took the reins as the team's number one receiving threat. The wideout's second-team selection marks the second all-conference honor in his career, as he was selected to the third team last season. Knue paced the Eagles in every receiving stat throughout the 2023 season, totaling 50 receptions for 479 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver's 50 receptions go down as the most in his collegiate football career, and rank as the fifth most regular-season catches in the MAC. Meanwhile, his 479 receiving yards are the second most in his career, ranking 13th in the conference. Moreover, Knue's consistency shined throughout the season as he currently has an on-going streak of at least one reception in 35 consecutive games, the 17th-best figure in the nation.

A former walk-on, Knue was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award annually presented to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on. As it currently stands, Knue has compiled 154 receptions and 1,866 yards, and 17 touchdowns in his EMU career, ranking sixth, eighth, and third all-time, respectively in the EMU football record book.

A tackling machine, Sparacio earned All-MAC honors for the first time in 2023. The Naples, Fla., native ranks second in the MAC and seventh in the FBS with an average of 11.2 tackles per game. Sparacio finished the regular season with 131 tackles (57 solo, 74 assist) to go along with a team-best 6.5 tackles for a loss of 35 yards. The total ranks 16th-most in EMU single-season history. He also notched 2.5 sacks,  five quarterback hurries, and three forced fumbles. The three strips rank fourth in the conferences and 18th nationally.

The 22 tackles recorded by Sparacio against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, rank as the second-most in an FBS game this season. That contest also saw him record 17 assisted tackles, the sixth most in a game this year.  Overall, he posted seven games with double digit tackles. Twice this season he collected MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week honors.
 
Jackson grabbed All-MAC accolades for the second time after a first-team nod a season ago. The Burleson, Texas, product was one of just five MAC players to record a kick return for a touchdown this season and one of just 36 nationwide to do so.  Jackson ranked 39th nationally with an average of 21.4 yards per kick return.

Jackson has proved himself versatile on the gridiron week-in and week-out for the Eagles as he has reached 100+ all-purpose yards in 12-of-24 (50%) games played donning the Block E, including the 122 yards he most recently accumulated at Buffalo, Nov. 21. Against the Bulls, he rushed for 72 yards, added 32 yards on kick returns, and picked up 18 yards receiving. Prior to arriving in Ypsilanti, Jackson notched just one contest where he reached 100+ all-purpose yards in his time with Lamar. This occurrence coincidentally came against Jacksonville State, who Eastern played this year on the road, Sept. 23, where Jackson totaled 127 yards in the tilt against the Gamecocks, Nov. 13, 2021.

Earning all-conference honors for the first time, Kline led the Eagles with 143 tackles and 10 quarterback hurries. The Chardon, Ohio, native led the MAC while ranking second in the FBS with an average of 12.7 stops per contest. Kline's tackles in 2023 are tied for 10th-best in a single season at EMU, while he needs just 11 more assisted stops to tie Alvin Sanders' 1974 record of 103. He posted nine contests with double-figure tackles, including a pair of 20+ games. Against Akron, Nov. 14, Kline finished with 23 stops, the most by any FBS student-athlete and the best outing by a MAC player since 2018. He also outpaced his 21 tackle performance two weeks earlier against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, when he posted 21.

For the first time since the 2019 campaign, EMU boasts a pair of tacklers that have exceeded the century mark. In the modern statistical era (since 1999), the feat has been accomplished just 12 times. Collectively, the duo has accounted for 28.7 percent of the team's tackles in 2023 (274-of-955). Furthermore, the duo of Kline and Sparacio makes EMU the only school with two players in the top 5 and one of two in the top 15 with Old Dominion.

EMU finished with a 6-6 overall record, including a 4-4 record in MAC play during the 2023 regular season. With victory at Buffalo, Nov. 21, Eastern Michigan has posted three consecutive seasons with a .500-or-better MAC record for the first time since 1986-89.

Eastern is set to play in another postseason bowl game, its seventh all-time. EMU is tied with Toledo and Ohio for the most bowl appearances at six in the MAC since 2016. Full details regarding bowl destinations, matchups, and more will be made available Sunday, Dec. 3, on EMUEagles.com and EMU's social media accounts.

2023 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Jason Candle, Toledo
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Dequan Finn, QB, Toledo
Offensive Player of the Year: Peny Boone, RB, Toledo
Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Salopek, LB, Miami
Special Teams Player of the Year: Graham Nicholson, PK, Miami
Freshman of the Year: Jalen Buckley, RB, Western Michigan

2023 All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Dequan Finn, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Corey Stewart, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Nolan Potter, NIU
Offensive Lineman – Nick Rosi, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Vinny Sciury, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
Tight End – Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Chrishon McCray, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Sam Wiglusz, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Kenneth Womack, Western Michigan
Running Back – Antario Brown, NIU
Running Back – Peny Boone, Toledo
Placekicker – Graham Nicholson, Miami

2023 All-MAC First Team Defense
Down Lineman – CJ Nunnally, Akron
Down Lineman – Sidney Houston, Ball State
Down Lineman – Caiden Woullard, Miami
Down Lineman – Judge Culpepper, Toledo
Linebacker – Matt Salopek, Miami
Linebacker – Bryce Houston, Ohio
Linebacker – Keye Thompson, Ohio
Linebacker – Dallas Gant, Toledo
Defensive Back – Jalen Huskey, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Devin Grant, Buffalo
Defensive Back – Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Defensive Back – Maxen Hook, Toledo
Punter – Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan

2023 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Marion Lukes, Central Michigan
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jacquez Stuart, Toledo

2023 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Kurtis Rourke, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Deiyantei Powell-Woods, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Brayden Swartout, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Brian Dooley, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Will Jados, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Reid Holskey, Miami
Tight End – Anthony Torres, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Daniel George, Akron
Wide Receiver – Jasaiah Gathings, Akron
Wide Receiver – Tanner Knue, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Jesse Prewitt III, Central Michigan
Running Back – Marquez Cooper, Ball State
Running Back – Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
Placekicker – Andrew Glass, Kent State

2023 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Down Lineman – Jacques Bristol, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Brian Ugwu, Miami
Down Lineman – James Ester, NIU
Down Lineman – Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
Linebacker – Cole Pearce, Ball State
Linebacker – Darren Anders, Bowling Green
Linebacker – Joe Sparacio, Eastern Michigan
Linebacker – Ty Wise, Miami
Defensive Back – Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Donte Kent, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Yahsyn McKnee, Miami
Defensive Back – JaVaughn Byrd, NIU
Punter – Alex Bevelhimer, Miami

2023 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jaylon Jackson, Eastern Michigan
Kickoff Return Specialist – Cade McDonald, Miami

2023 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – Brett Gabbert, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Damon Kaylor, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Alex Wollschlaeger, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Gabe Wallace, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Tyler Doty, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Addison West, Western Michigan
Tight End – Tanner Koziol, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Odieu Hiliare, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Luke Floriea, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Trayvon Rudolph, NIU
Wide Receiver – Anthony Sambucci, Western Michigan
Running Back – Rashad Amos, Miami
Running Back – Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan
Placekicker – Luke Pawlak, Toledo

2023 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Down Lineman – CJ West, Kent State
Down Lineman – Vonnie Watkins, Ohio
Down Lineman – Rayyan Buell, Ohio
Down Lineman – Darius Alexander, Toledo
Linebacker – Bryan McCoy, Akron
Linebacker – Cashius Howell, Bowling Green
Linebacker – Kyle Moretti, Central Michigan
Linebacker – Chase Kline, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back – KJ Martin, Akron
Defensive Back – Davon Ferguson, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Chris McDonald Jr., Toledo
Defensive Back – Keni-H Lovely, Western Michigan
Punter – Lucas Borrow, Ball State

2023 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jhaylin Embry, Bowling Green
Kickoff Return Specialist – Ron Cook, Buffalo
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