Preview 2018: Previewing and looking ahead to the MAC season with the CFN All-MAC Team & Top 30 players. 

Preview 2018: CFN All-MAC Team & Top 30 Players

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2018 Preseason CFN MAC Offensive Player of the Year

QB Nathan Rourke, Jr. Ohio
Can he really repeat and be the same sort of all-around star who led Ohio to a huge season? All he did after taking over the gig was throw for 2,203 yards and 17 touchdowns and turn into a killer of a runner with 21 touchdowns and 912 yards.

The former JUCO transfer needs to be a bit more accurate, but with his athleticism and dual-threat skills, he might just take Ohio to a MAC title this time around.

2018 Preseason CFN MAC Defensive Player of the Year

LB Khalil Hodge, Sr. Buffalo
Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith will be among the nation’s top pass rushers and could easily be here, too. He and Hodge will be among the MAC’s marquee stars in what should be a fun year for the league.

The 6-1, 235-pound Hodge stepped in from the JUCO ranks and rocked right away, coming up with 123 tackles in his first season and then 154 last year. He might not be a top-shelf pass rusher, but that’s not his job – he’ll stop everything against the run.

2018 Preseason CFN All-MAC Offense

QB – Nathan Rourke, Jr. Ohio

RB – Justin Gilbert, Jr. Ball State

RB – Jonathan Ward, Jr. Central Michigan

WR – Anthony Johnson, Sr. Buffalo

WR – Diontae Johnson, Jr. Toledo

TE – Tyler Mabry, Jr. Buffalo

OL – John Keenoy, Sr. Western Michigan

OL – Jimmy Leatiota, Sr. Eastern Michigan

OL – Joe Lowery, Sr. Ohio

OL – Max Scharping, Sr. NIU

OL – Jordan Steckler, Jr. Northern Illinois

2018 Preseason CFN All-MAC Defense

DE – Maxx Crosby, Jr. Eastern Michigan

DT – Nathan Brisson-Fast, Sr. Central Michigan

DT – Ben LeRoy, Jr. Kent State

DE – Sutton Smith, Jr. NIU

LB – Ulysees Gilbert, Sr. Akron

LB – Khalil Hodge, Sr. Buffalo

LB – Malik Fountain, Sr. Central Michigan

CB – Alvin Davis, Jr. Akron

S – Javon Hagan, Jr. Ohio

S – Brody Hoying, Jr. Eastern Michigan

CB – Sean Bunting, Jr. Central Michigan

2018 Preseason CFN All-MAC Special Teams

PK – Jameson Vest, Jr. Toledo

P – Derek Adams, Jr. Kent State

PR/KR – Diontae Johnson, Jr. Toledo

2018 Preseason CFN MAC Top 30 Players

1. LB Khalil Hodge, Sr. Buffalo

2. DE Sutton Smith, Jr. NIU

3. QB Nathan Rourke, Jr. Ohio

4. WR/KR Diontae Johnson, Jr. Toledo

5. QB Tyree Jackson, Jr. Buffalo

6. WR Anthony Johnson, Sr. Buffalo

7. LB Ulysees Gilbert, Sr. Akron

8. LB Malik Fountain, Sr. Central Michigan

9. OT Max Scharping, Sr. NIU

10. RB Jonathan Ward, Jr. Central Michigan

11. RB Justin Gilbert, Jr. Ball State

12. S Javon Hagan, Jr. Ohio

13. LB Jim Jones, Sr. Kent State

14. DE Maxx Crosby, Jr. Eastern Michigan

15. DE Jamal Davis, Sr. Akron

16. LB Alex Briones, Sr. Central Michigan

17. WR Cody Thompson, Sr. Toledo

18. OG Jimmy Leatiota, Sr. Eastern Michigan

19. CB Sean Bunting, Jr. Central Michigan

20. OG Jordan Steckler, Jr. Northern Illinois

21. QB Gus Ragland, Sr. Miami University

22. QB Jon Wassink, Jr. Western Michigan

23. OT Joe Lowery, Sr. Ohio

24. S Brody Hoying, Jr. Eastern Michigan

25. S Khalil Robinson, Jr. Toledo

26. WR James Gardner, Sr. Miami University

27. C John Keenoy, Sr. Western Michigan

28. RB A.J. Ouellette, Sr. Ohio

29. LB Brad Koenig, Sr. Miami University

30. CB CB Alvin Davis, Jr.