Photo: Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire

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 2023, plus some 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 MAC.

Offense

Our All-MAC team is headlined by a litany of Rockets, with every position group having at least one player from Toledo. DeQuan Finn and Peny Boone each led the conference at their respective positions in yards, touchdowns, and Total Points. Jerjuan Newton amassed the most receiving yards and 2nd-most receiving Total Points among MAC pass catchers, while Anthony Torres finished 2nd among all MAC tight ends in receiving Total Points while leading the position in blocking Total Points.

Up front, Toledo also had two offensive lineman make our All-Conference team in tackle Nick Rosi and guard Vinny Sciury. They were joined by two Western Michigan OL in guard Addison West and center Jacob Gideon, who paced the conference in Total Points at their positions.

Defense

The MAC was loaded with solid defenders across the board this season, resulting in players from six different squads being selected to our All-Conference defense. Toledo defensive tackle Judge Culpepper led all MAC players in total sacks with 10 last season, while EDGE Brian Ugwu recorded 60 total pressures, easily topping the conference. Ohio linebacker Bryce Houston recorded top-2 finishes in the conference in solo tackles, total tackles, and Points Saved against the pass, as well as leading all MAC off-ball linebackers in TFLs.

Our DB group on the All-MAC team is absolutely loaded with talent. Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, who will hear his name called on night one of the NFL Draft in April, and Bowling Green’s Jordan Oladokun finished 1st and 2nd among all MAC defenders in Points Saved against the pass, respectively. At safety, Devin Grant from Buffalo led the conference in interceptions with 5 while allowing precisely zero touchdowns last season.

Specialists

Apart from offensive and defensive studs, the MAC also has a good group of difference-making specialists on our All-Conference team. Graham Nicholson from Miami OH was unquestionably the best kicker in the MAC last season. He finished first in the conference in FG made by a landslide with 27 on 28 attempts while also connecting on 36-of-38 XP attempts.

Eastern Michigan’s Mitchell Tomasek had a stellar 2023 campaign, recording the most punts, punt yards, net yards, and highest punt average among all MAC punters.

Rounding out our specialist group, Jacquez Stuart of Toledo led the conference in kick return average while taking one back for a touchdown.

Honorable Mentions

With so many talented players in this conference, there were bound to be a few who slipped through the cracks. Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. led all MAC tight ends in almost every single raw statistic, including receptions, touchdowns, and Total Points. On the offensive line, Northern Illinois tackle Nolan Potter finished with the most Total Points of any OL in the conference.

On the defensive side, two big-time linebackers lead our Honorable Mentions with Dallas Gant from Toledo and Miami OH’s Matt Salopek. Each of these two finished in the top-2 in Points Saved against the run for all MAC defenders, with Salopek finishing atop the conference in this area as well as solo and combined tackles.

Check out this year’s NFL Draft site to see how we feel some of these players project to the NFL.

Total Points, stats, and ranks as of 3/19/2023