The balance of power in the MAC clearly resides in the West Division this season, as 38 of the selections on Athlon’s projected all-conference team for 2016 come from the league’s top three teams – Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan. The Rockets lead the MAC with 15 selections, while the Huskies check in at No. 2 with 12. Bowling Green takes the top spot among East Division programs with 10 selections on Athlon’s All-MAC team.

Athlon Sports released its full predictions for the MAC last week. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best and honor the top players in the league with a release of first, second, third and fourth all-conference teams for 2016.

An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2016. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2016 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.

MAC 2016 Team Previews

East Division National Rank: 98 97 113 118 112 91

West Division National Rank: 116 88 124 80 79 69

Visit the Athlon Sports Online Store to order a copy of the 2016 National College Football Preview Magazine, which features in-depth analysis and previews for all 128 teams, predictions, rankings and features to prepare for the upcoming year.

Athlon's 2016 All-MAC Team

First-Team Offense Second-Team Offense Third-Team Offense Fourth-Team Offense QB Zach Terrell WMU Cooper Rush CMU Drew Hare NIU Thomas Woodson Akron RB Kareem Hunt Toledo Jamauri Bogan WMU Warren Ball Akron Darian Green Ball State RB Joel Bouagnon NIU Terry Swanson Toledo A.J. Ouellette Ohio Fred Coppet BGSU AP Jerome Lane (WR) Akron Jordan Johnson (RB) Buffalo Shaq Vann (RB) EMU Alfonso Smith (RB) Miami WR Corey Davis WMU Jesse Kroll CMU Marcus McGill Buffalo JoJo Natson Akron WR Kenny Golladay NIU Sebastian Smith Ohio KeVonn Mabon Ball State Jordan Reid Ohio WR Ronnie Moore BGSU Cody Thompson Toledo Rokeem Williams Miami Corey Willis CMU C Tim McAuliffe BGSU John Keenoy WMU James O'Hagan Buffalo Mitch Palmer Miami OL Jacob Bennett BGSU Mike Ebert Toledo Josh Ruka NIU Reno Reda Kent State OL Taylor Moton WMU Zach Hovey Miami Troy Watson Ohio Ryan Hunter BGSU OL Levon Myers NIU Drake Miller Ball State Logan Dietz BGSU Paul Perschon Toledo OL Storm Norton Toledo Darien Terrell EMU Max Scharping NIU Chukwuma Okorafor WMU First-Team Defense Second-Team

Defense Third-Team Defense Fourth-Team Defense DL J.T. Jones Miami Ikeem Allen Miami Luke Maclean EMU Brandon Crawford Buffalo DL Jamal Marcus Akron Treyvon Hester Toledo Terrance Bush BGSU Earl Moore Toledo DL Josh Posley Ball State Pat O'Connor EMU Tarell Basham Ohio Kurt Laseak Ohio DL Terence Waugh Kent State Se'Von Pittman Akron Keion Adams WMU Joe Ostman CMU LB Quentin Poling Ohio Brandon Berry Buffalo Sean Folliard NIU Jeremi Powell Toledo LB Austin Valdez BGSU Blair Brown

Ohio Paul Moses Miami Elcee Refuge Kent State LB Sean Wiggins Ball State Jaylen Coleman Toledo Trenton Greene BGSU Caleb Bailey WMU CB Shawun Lurry NIU Darius Phillips WMU Heath Harding Miami DeAndre Scott Akron CB Demetrius Monday Kent State Boise Ross Buffalo Najee Murray Kent State Amari Coleman CMU S Asantay Brown WMU Tony Annese CMU Ryan Williamson Buffalo Martez Hester Ball State S Nate Holley Kent State DeJuan Rogers Toledo Brandon Mayes NIU Zach Guiser Akron First-Team Specialists Second-Team Specialists Third-Team Specialists Fourth-Team Specialists K Christian Hagan NIU Jameson Vest Toledo Brian Eavey CMU Morgan Hagee Ball State P Joe Davidson BGSU Austin Barnes EMU Kyle Schmidt Ball State Nick Ellis Toledo KR Aregeros Turner NIU KeVonn Mabon Ball State Darius Phillips WMU Diontae Johnson Toledo PR Corey Jones Toledo JoJo Natson Akron Corey Lacanaria Ball State Shawun Lurry NIU

Team-by-Team Breakdown of Athlon's 2016 All-MAC Team