It’s finally time to release our SIS All-Conference teams. We used our all-encompassing player value stat, Total Points, along with other metrics and our scouting work as leading references in putting together our team of selections for 2022, plus a few honorable mentions.

You can learn more about Total Points and the statistics referenced here.

These picks are meant to honor this season’s best-of-the-best in the Mid-American Conference.

Offense

Position Name School
QB Kurtis Rourke Ohio
RB Carson Steele Ball State
WR Dante Cephas Kent State
WR Sam Wiglusz Ohio
TE Brady Hunt Ball State
FLEX Devontez Walker Kent State
OT Davis Heinzen Central Michigan
OT Marcellus Marshall Kent State
OG Deiyantei Powell-Woods Central Michigan
OG Vinny Sciury Toledo
OC Jack Hasz Buffalo

When talking about the 2022 MAC season, we must start with Ohio’s “Maple Missile” Kurtis Rourke. Rourke led all MAC QBs in Total Points with 97, taking a massive step forward from his 3FR season, while missing the final 3 games of the season. One reason for the progress was the addition of former Ohio State walk-on Sam Wiglusz. Wiglusz, playing primarily in the slot, was Rourke’s No. 1 target, contributing 893 yards and 11 TDs.

Kent State’s high-paced attack was led by receivers Dante Cephas and Devontez Walker during the 2022 season. Cephas was 2nd in the MAC in Total Points as a receiver with 24, while Walker led the conference with 921 yards receiving and 11 TDs on 103 targets.  

Carson Steele was arguably the best player in the MAC in 2022, compiling 1,531 yards and 14 TDs. What put the nation on notice was Steele’s ability to break through tackles and first contact, finishing the year with 1,113 yards after contact and 65 broken tackles. Steele was a dominant player for the Cardinals in 2022, earning a Power-5 transfer to UCLA.

Defense

Position Name School
DT Braden Fiske Western Michigan
DT Devonte O’Malley Northern Illinois
EDGE Andre Carter Western Michigan
EDGE Jose Ramirez Eastern Michigan
LB Zaire Barnes Western Michigan
LB Dyontae Johnson Toledo
CB Quinyon Mitchell Toledo
CB Nic Jones Ball State
S Trey Jones Central Michigan
S Marcus Fuqua Buffalo
FLEX Joshua Scott Eastern Michigan

Coming off an 8-sack year in 2021, Eastern Michigan’s Jose Ramirez became a house-hold name in 2022, finishing the year tied-3rd in the nation with 11 sacks, each one unassisted. Ramirez became the nightmare for QBs, earning a deserved 1st-Team honor.

Let’s stick with the pass rush as Western Michigan possessed two dynamic pass rushers themselves in Braden Fiske and Andre Carter. Fiske and Carter managed 6 and 6.5 sacks, respectively, in 2022, while both maintained a pressure rate greater than 9%.

Specialists

Position Name School
K Alex McNulty Buffalo
P Luke Elzinga Central Michigan
Returner Keegan Wilburn Ohio

Keegan Wilburn finished 2nd in the nation in kickoff return yards, and also returned one for a touchdown. Wilburn was one of the most explosive returners in the nation, and we expect to see another big year out of him next year. Luke Elzinga was a productive punter for CMU with 22 punts inside the 20 and 20 forced fair catches. Alex McNulty was a weapon for Buffalo from anywhere on the field. He made 85% of his kicks in 2022, which led the MAC.

Honorable Mentions

Name School
Marquez Cooper Kent State
Cole Tucker Northern Illinois
Jamal Turner Toledo
Karl Brooks Bowling Green
Thomas Incoom Central Michigan
Zachary Ford Toledo

Karl Brooks and Thomas Incoom finished right behind EMU’s Ramirez in sacks, with 10 and 11 sacks respectively. Both also possessed pressure rates greater than 10% (13.8% and 10.9%, respectively). On the offensive side, Jamal Turner for Toledo finished the year with 8 TDs, making him the go-to scoring option for the MAC Champion Rockets.

Total Points, stats, and ranks as of 2/7/2023