

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 2019 POST SEASON AWARDS;

WESTERN MICHIGAN RB LeVANTE BELLAMY NAMED MAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR & VERN SMITH LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER



Cleveland, Ohio – A total of 24 repeat selections from last year’s All-MAC teams highlight the 2019 postseason football awards in the Mid-American Conference as Central Michigan, Miami, Western Michigan and Kent State swept the annual awards.



Western Michigan senior running back LeVante Bellamy was tabbed as the winner of the 38th Vern Smith Leadership Award as the top player in the MAC and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Central Michigan Head Coach Jim McElwain was selected as the MAC Head Coach of the Year, while Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert was named MAC Freshman of the Year. Western Michigan junior Treshaun Hayward was selected as MAC Defensive Player of the Year, while Kent State sophomore kicker Matt Trickett was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year.



2019 MAC Specialty Award Winners

Coach of the Year: Jim McElwain, Central Michigan

Offensive Player of the Year: RB LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan

Defensive Player of the Year: OLB Treshaun Hayward, Western Michigan

Special Teams Player of the Year: K Matthew Trickett, Kent State

Freshman of the Year: QB Brett Gabbert, Miami

Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: RB LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan



McElwain is in his first season in leading the Central Michigan program and has the Chippewas in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game for the first time since 2009. McElwain has led the program to a dramatic turnaround as Central Michigan’s seven wins improvement from last year is the best in FBS this season as the Chippewas have turned a 1-11 overall record, 0-8 in the MAC in 2018, into an 8-4 overall mark in 2019 and the West Division title with a 6-2 league record.



Bellamy, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., leads the nation with 23 rushing touchdowns and ranks eighth in the nation with 1,412 yards rushing this season. Bellamy’s 23 rushing touchdowns this season rank tied for fourth best in MAC single-season history. Bellamy had 248 carries this year and averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 117.7 yards per game. Bellamy was tied for second in the nation with 138 points this season for an average of 11.5 points per game. Bellamy was part of a Western Michigan offense that was second in total offense in the MAC (457.2 yards per game) and third in the MAC in scoring (34.2 points per game).



Hayward, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., led the Broncos and ranked second in the MAC and fifth in the nation with 132 total tackles. His 10.5 tackles for loss ranked tied for 10th in the MAC and his five sacks were tied for seventh most in the league. Hayward added one forced fumble and one fumble recovered. Hayward was part of a Western Michigan defense that ranked second in the MAC in scoring defense (26.2 points per game) as the Broncos are bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season.



Gabbert, a native of St. Louis, Mo., started all 12 games for Miami and led the RedHawks offense with 1,967 yards passing and 10 touchdowns. Gabbert completed 139-of-258 attempts for a 53.8% and averaged 163.9 yards passing per game. Gabbert led Miami to a 7-5 overall record and the MAC East Division title and a trip to the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game for the first time since 2010.



Trickett, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, led the MAC and was tied for second in the country with a career-high 24 field goals made in leading Kent State to a 6-6 overall record, 5-3 in the MAC, and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012. Trickett was 24-of-29 field goals made this season for an 82.7% and led the MAC with 107 total points. His 107 points for an average of 8.9 points per game ranked 21st in the nation.



Western Michigan led the way in 2019 with six First-Team selections, followed by Central Michigan and Buffalo with five First-Team selections, while Ball State featured four First-Team honorees. Overall, Western Michigan set the pace with 13 All-MAC selections, followed by Buffalo with 12 All-MAC selections and Ball State with 10 All-MAC honorees, followed by Central Michigan and Miami with nine All-MAC selections.



There were four students named to their second First Team All-MAC selection: senior safety Javon Hagan (Ohio), sophomore kicker Matthew Trickett (Kent State), senior running back LeVante Bellamy (Western Michigan) and senior offensive lineman Luke Juriga (Western Michigan).



2019 FIRST TEAM ALL-MAC



2019 All-MAC First Team Offense

Position – Name - School

Quarterback – Nathan Rourke, Ohio +#

Offensive Linemen – Danny Pinter, Ball State

Offensive Linemen – Luke Juriga, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois

Offensive Linemen – Evin Ksiezarczyk, Buffalo +

Offensive Linemen – Tommy Doyle, Miami

Tight End – Giovanni Ricci, Western Michigan %

Wide Receiver – Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan

Wide Receiver – Justin Hall, Ball State %#

Wide Receiver – Skyy Moore, Western Michigan

Wide Receiver – JaCorey Sullivan, Central Michigan

Running Back – LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan &

Running Back – Jaret Patterson, Buffalo +

Placekicker – Matt Trickett, Kent State &



2019 All-MAC First Team Defense

Position – Name - School

Outside Linebacker – Treshaun Hayward, Western Michigan

Outside Linebacker – Troy Brown, Central Michigan

Inside Linebacker – Jacob White, Ball State %

Inside Linebacker – John Lako, Akron %

Down Lineman – Sean Adesanya, Central Michigan

Down Lineman – Taylor Riggins, Buffalo

Down Lineman – Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo

Down Lineman – Doug Costin, Miami +

Defensive Back – Joey Banks, Buffalo

Defensive Back – Javon Hagan, Ohio *

Defensive Back – Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan %^

Defensive Back – Antonio Phillips, Ball State

Punter – Kyle Kramer, Miami %



2019 All-MAC First Team Specialists

Position – Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist – Keith Mixon Jr., Western Michigan

Punt Return Specialist – Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan





2019 SECOND TEAM ALL-MAC

2019 All-MAC Second Team Offense

Position – Name - School

Quarterback – Mike Glass III, Eastern Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Austen Pleasants, Ohio

Offensive Lineman – Jaylon Moore, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Kayode Awosika, Buffalo

Offensive Lineman – Mike Caliendo, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Paul Nosworthy, Buffalo

Tight End – Tony Poljan, Central Michigan

Wide Receiver – Riley Miller, Ball State +

Wide Receiver – Arthur Jackson, Eastern Michigan

Wide Receiver – Bryce Mitchell, Toledo

Wide Receiver – Quintin Morris, Bowling Green

Running Back – Bryant Koback, Toledo

Running Back – Caleb Huntley, Ball State

Placekicker – Sam Sloman, Miami



2019 All-MAC Second Team Defense

Position – Name - School

Outside Linebacker – Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan %@ (as defensive back)

Outside Linebacker – Kadofi Wright, Buffalo

Inside Linebacker – Michael Oliver, Central Michigan

Inside Linebacker – Drake Spears, Western Michigan

Down Lineman – Ali Fayad, Western Michigan

Down Lineman – Jack Heflin, Northern Illinois %

Down Lineman – Ledarius Mack, Buffalo

Down Lineman – Kameron Butler, Miami

Defensive Back – Jamal Parker, Kent State

Defensive Back – Mykelti Williams, Northern Illinois +

Defensive Back – Amechi Uzodinma, Ball State

Defensive Back – Tyrone Hill, Buffalo

Punter – Michael Farkas, Ohio &!



2019 All-MAC Second Team Specialists

Position – Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist – Malik Dunner, Ball State %^

Punt Return Specialist – Maurice Thomas, Miami





2019 THIRD TEAM ALL-MAC

2019 All-MAC Third Team Offense

Position – Name - School

Quarterback – Jon Wassink, Western Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Nick Rosi, Toledo

Offensive Lineman – Danny Godlevske, Miami %

Offensive Lineman – Curtis Blackwell, Ball State

Offensive Lineman – Marques Grimes, Ohio

Offensive Lineman – Steven Hayes, Ohio

Tight End – Mitchell Brinkman, Northern Illinois

Wide Receiver – Isaiah McKoy, Kent State

Wide Receiver – Antonio Nunn, Buffalo

Wide Receiver – Mike Carrigan, Kent State

Wide Receiver – Dylan Drummond, Eastern Michigan

Running Back – Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan

Running Back – Tre Harbison, Northern Illinois +

Placekicker – John Richardson, Northern Illinois



2019 All-MAC Third Team Defense

Position – Name - School

Outside Linebacker – Myles Reid, Miami

Outside Linebacker – Kholbe Coleman, Bowling Green

Inside Linebacker – Kobie Beltram, Eastern Michigan

Inside Linebacker – Jaylin Thomas, Ball State

Down Lineman – Jamal Hines, Toledo

Down Lineman – Chibueze Onwuka, Buffalo

Down Lineman – Theo Majette, Kent State

Down Lineman – Robi Stuart, Central Michigan

Defensive Back – Alvin Davis, Akron

Defensive Back – Emmanuel Rugamba, Miami

Defensive Back – Patrick Lupro, Western Michigan

Defensive Back – Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan +

Punter – Derek Adams, Kent State



2019 All-MAC Third Team Specialists

Position – Name - School

Kickoff Return Specialist – DL Knock, Ohio

Punt Return Specialist – Keith Mixon Jr., Western Michigan



& 2018 First-Team All-MAC

+ 2018 Second-Team All-MAC

% 2018 Third-Team All-MAC



@ 2017 First-Team All-MAC

# 2017 Second-Team All-MAC

^ 2017 Third-Team All-MAC



= 2016 First-Team All-MAC

* 2016 Second-Team All-MAC

! 2016 Third-Team All-MAC