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.
