Miami Ohio University Athletics
Nine RedHawk Football Players Earn All-MAC Honors
12/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2003
CLEVELAND, OH - Miami University earned its most all-Mid-American Conference honors since 1997, as nine members of the RedHawks' MAC East Division championship football team were named all-conference, the MAC office announced today. The selections were voted on by the league's 14 head coaches.
The nine selections were divided among four first-team honorees - quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (Findlay, OH/Findlay), offensive lineman Jacob Bell (Euclid, OH/St. Ignatius), defensive lineman Phil Smith (Shaker Heights, OH/St. Ignatius) and linebacker Terrell Jones (St. Louis, MO/Mehlville) - and five second-team selections - center Todd Londot (Utica, OH/Utica), offensive tackle Ben Herrell (Middleton, WI/Middleton), tight end Matt Brandt (Toronto, ON/Northern Secondary), wide receiver Martin Nance (Maryland Heights, MO/Pattonville) and linebacker Terna Nande (Grand Rapids, MI/Creston).
Heading up the selections for the 11-1 RedHawks (No. 14 AP Poll/No. 15 USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll) is junior quarterback and Davey O'Brien semifinalist Ben Roethlisberger. For Roethlisberger, this is his first, first-team all-conference honor after earning second-team plaudits the past two years. The only other repeat all-conference performer was Jones, who was a first-team selection in 2001. The RedHawks nine first- and second-team selections are the most among MAC schools.
2003 all-MAC Bios
Jacob Bell * OL Sr., Euclid, OH
Has started every game this season at right guard ... has not given up a sack to his man this year ... paving the way for the most potent offense in Miami history, and one of the top five offenses nationally, featuring a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and two 600-yard running backs.
Matt Brandt * TE Sr., Toronto, ON
Miami's third-leading receiver in terms of receptions and receiving yardage ... has made at least three receptions in five games this season... snagged five receptions for 41 yards in win at Northwestern (Sept. 13) ... busted out versus Cincinnati (Sept. 27), hauling in a career-high eight receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns ... snagged three passes for 35 yards and a TD in Ball State win (Oct. 18) ... grabbed five passes for a career-best 97 yards, including the first touchdown of the game against Marshall (Nov. 12) ... made two catches for 39 yards and a touchdown at Ohio (Nov. 22) ... ranks among the nation's top 10 tight ends in receptions (8th-33) and receiving yards (7th-448).
Ben Herrell * OL Sr., Middleton, WI
Has started all but one game this season at left tackle, missing only the Kent State game (Oct. 25) with an injury ... has not allowed a sack to his man this season ... helps pave the way for the most potent offense in Miami history and one of the top five offenses nationally, featuring a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and two 600-yard running backs.
Terrell Jones * LB Sr., St. Louis, MO
Ranks second on the team in tackles, having tallied more than 100 stops for the second time in his career ... has started every game except the regular-season finale at UCF (Nov. 28) at middle linebacker ... began the season with an 11-tackle performance at Iowa (Aug. 30) that included seven solo stops and 1.5 quarterback sacks ... recorded 11 stops, including a season-high nine solo stops, and a tackle for loss in Sept. 20 defeat of Colorado State ... made 10 stops, including a quarterback sack and fumble recovery in defeat of Cincinnati (Sept. 27) ... amassed a season-best 15 tackles against Bowling Green (Nov. 4).
Todd Londot * Center So., Utica, OH
Has started every game at center ... despite the fact that roughly 70 percent of Miami's snaps have come out of the shotgun, has had only one bad exchange with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ... helps pave the way for the most potent offense in Miami history and one of the top five offenses nationally, featuring a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and two 600-yard running backs.
Martin Nance * Wide Receiver So., Maryland Heights, MO
Leads the MAC and in eighth nationally in receiving yardage, averaging 104.8 yards per game ... has shattered Miami's single-season receiving records for receptions (76) and receiving yards 1,258 ... only two touchdown receptions shy of tying the program single-season record in that category ... enjoyed break-out game at Northwestern (Sept. 13), hauling in four receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns, including a season-long 61-yard TD reception ... enjoyed back-to-back 100-yard receiving efforts versus Cincinnati (Sept. 27) and Akron (Oct. 4), totaling 115 and 108 yards, respectively ... hauled in career bests of 10 receptions for 181 yards and three touchdowns at Kent State (Oct. 25) ... capped off the biggest two-game stretch ever by a Miami wide receiver by following up with 10 more catches for 169 yards ... established Miami single-season record with his sixth 100-yard receiving effort of the season at UCF (Nov. 28), totaling nine receptions for 161 yards and a TD ... already owns three of Miami's top 10 single-game receiving yardage totals ... has at least five receptions in nine games this season ... leads the team with 14 plays of 20 yards or more, including the three longest pass plays.
Terna Nande * Linebacker So., Grand Rapids, MI
Opened the season with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops and three tackles for loss, in season opener at Iowa (Aug. 30) ... notched seven tackles, including two for loss, and intercepted a pass in win at Colorado State (Sept. 20) ... notched back-to-back double-digit tackling performances in wins over Cincinnati (Sept. 27) and Akron (Oct. 4), recording 10 and 13 tackles, respectively ... also tallied a sack, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass versus the Zips ... had eight tackles, including two for loss, and a fumble recovery in defeat of Bowling Green (Nov. 4), earning MAC Defensive Player of the Week plaudits ... followed with 10 tackles, including three for loss, and an interception returned for a touchdown against Marshall (Nov. 12), earning his second straight MAC Player of the Week plaudit ... totaled eight tackles versus Ohio (Nov. 22), including three for loss ... rounded out regular-season with six solo stops and a tackle for loss at UCF (Nov. 28) ... needs two tackles for loss to move into 10th-place on Miami's single-season charts ... on pace to reach 100 tackles for the season.
Ben Roethlisberger * Quarterback Jr., Findlay, OH
Set Miami single-season records for pass completions (295), passing touchdowns (29) and passing yardage (3,670) while directing the most potent offense in MAC and Miami history ... completing nearly 70 percent of his passes on the season ... has thrown for at least 300 yards six times this season ... bounced back from a four-interception performance at Iowa by throwing for 353 yards and three touchdowns at Northwestern (Sept. 13) ... completed 29-of-39 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns in Sept. 20 win at Colorado State ... won third straight Victory Bell battle by throwing for 377 yards and two touchdowns versus Cincinnati (Sept. 27) ... notched his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing day with 369 yards and two touchdowns versus Akron (Oct. 4) ... also rushed for a pair of TDs versus the Zips ... guided a fourth-quarter comeback at Kent State, throwing for 409 yards and three TDs ... in an abbreviated stint versus Ohio, tossed for 294 yards and four TDs ... terrorized UCF for 327 yards and five passing TDs, despite playing only one play in the second half ... got off to a personal-best start versus the Golden Knights, completing his first 14 passes to nine different receivers ... ranks among the top 10 quarterbacks nationally in passing efficiency (9th-159.1), passing touchdowns (7th-29), passing yards (4th-3,670) and total offense (7th-313.5) ... also has punted 11 times this season, averaging 37.2 yards per punt and pinning the opposition inside its 20 six times.
Phil Smith * Defensive Lineman Sr., Shaker Heights, OH
Started all 12 games at defensive end ... leads the team in tackles for loss and quarterback sacks ... busted out with five tackles, including three tackles for loss and a quarterback sack at Northwestern (Sept. 13) ... added five more tackles, two more tackles for loss and a quarterback sack at Colorado State (Sept. 20) ... terrorized Kent State (Oct. 25) for six tackles, including five hits for loss ... totaled five tackles, two quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery versus Bowling Green (Nov. 4) ... finished the regular-season with a season-high eight tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery at UCF (Nov. 28).
