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BSU QB Davis was named offensive player of the year

Northern Illinois University defensive end Larry English, a senior from Aurora, Ill., was tabbed as the winner of the 27th annual Vern Smith Leadership Award, the fourth time a Huskie has been honored. English, also the 2007 honoree, joins NIU quarterback Tim Tyrrell (1983) and running back Garrett Wolfe (2006) in the select company. He is the fourth overall to capture back-to-back honors with the other three all quarterbacks - Bowling Greens Brian McClure in 1984 and 1985, BGs Erik White in 1991 and 1992, and Marshalls Byron Leftwich in 2001 and 2002. The MACs highest football honor is voted on by league head coaches.

English, who was also honored as the leagues Defensive Player of the Year, anchored a Huskies squad that led the MAC in total defense, allowing 303.7 yards per game, which is 40 yards better than the No.2 rated defensive team. English tied for second in the MAC with 13.5 tackles for a loss and third in sacks with 8.0. The Huskies won four more games this year than in 2007, finishing with a bowl-eligible 6-6 record. Four of the Huskies six losses were by four points or fewer.

In other awards voted by the MAC News Media Association, Ball State was recognized with Coach of the Year in Brady Hoke, Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Nate Davis, and Freshman of the Year in defensive back Sean Baker. The Special Teams Player of the Year Award went to Antonio Brown of Central Michigan.

Hoke, in his sixth seaon as head coach at his alma mater, directed the Cardinals to the best season in school history. Ball State went 12-0 and won the MAC West Division to advance to the MAC Football Championship game Friday, Dec. 5 versus East Division opponent Buffalo.

The Cardinals 12-0 regular season is the leagues best since Marshall went 11-0 in 1999. The Cardinals captured their first win ever over a Big Ten foe when they won at Indiana, and they also beat bowl-bound Navy.

Davis, a junior from Bellaire, Ohio, led the MAC in passing efficiency for the third consecutive season. He completed a league-high 66.7 percent (218-of-324) of his attempts for 3,095 yards, 25 touchdowns with six interceptions. He guided the Cardinals to a MAC leading 37.7 points per game. Davis also rushed for 241 yards and four touchdowns. He is the younger brother of Jose Davis, who while at Kent State set the MAC single-game record for passing yards with 551 in 1997 versus UCF.

NIU DE Larry English

Baker, a graduate of Canfield High School in Canfield, Ohio, stepped onto the scene by tying for the league-lead in interceptions with six, including three in one game (vs. Akron). He was a key part of the Cardinals defense the led the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 16.7 points per game. Baker had a fumble returned for a touchdown at Akron and the next week ran back an interception for a score at Indiana. He had 90 total tackles, 42 solos, and 10 pass break ups for a MAC-leading 16 passes defended.

Brown, a sophomore from Miami, Fla., followed up his 2007 MAC Freshman of the Year honor by leading the nation in punt returns at 20.67 yards per return and contributing 21.1 yards per return on 34 kickoffs. For good measure, he finished among the MACs top receivers with 82 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns. Brown was a first-team selection at both the kickoff return and punt return position this year.

Ball State and Central Michigan each had seven first-team selections.

Overall, Ball State set the pace with 13 honorees, followed by Western Michigan with 12 and Central Michigan with 10.

Those who made their second consecutive first-team selection were OL Robert Brewster (Ball State), TE Darius Hill (Ball State), WR Jamarko Simmons (Western Michigan), OLB Clayton Mullins (Miami), DE Larry English (Northern Illinois), DT Diyral Briggs (Bowling Green), DB Davonte Shannon (Buffalo), DB Barry Church (Toledo), and kickoff return specialist Antonio Brown (Central Michigan).

The complete All-MAC team is as follows.

Individual Award Winners
Vern Smith Leadership Award Larry English, Northern Illinois
Coach of the Year Brady Hoke, Ball State
Offensive Player of the Year Nate Davis, Ball State
Defensive Player of the Year Larry English, Northern Illinois
Special Teams Player of the Year Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Freshman of the Year Sean Baker, Ball State

Second Team Defense
Outside Linebacker - Derek Burrell, Kent State
Outside Linebacker - Noah Keller, Ohio
Inside Linebacker - Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan
Inside Linebacker - Kevin Grant, Akron
Down Lineman - Andre Neblett, Temple
Down Lineman - Jameson Hartke, Ohio
Down Lineman - Zach Davidson, Western Michigan
Down Lineman - Brandon Crawford, Ball State
Defensive Back - E.J. Biggers, Western Michigan
Defensive Back - Londen Fryar, Western Michigan
Defensive Back - Mike Newton, Buffalo
Defensive Back - Brian Lainhart, Kent State
Punter Chris Miller, Ball State

Kickoff Return Specialist
First Team - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Second Team - Travis Shelton, Temple
Third Team - Bryan Williams, Akron

Punt Return Specialist
First Team Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Second Team - B.J. Hill, Ball State
Third Team - Eugene Harris, Miami