Four RedHawks Earn All-MAC Honors
11/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
James Gardner (first-team), Heath Harding (third-team), Ikeem Allen (third-team) and Jordan Rigg (third-team), four members of the Miami University football team, were named All-MAC by the league's 12 coaches on Wednesday morning.
Gardner, who earned third-team All-MAC one year ago, was Miami's lone first-team All-MAC representative this season. The junior established career bests in receptions (47), yards (927), touchdowns (11) and yards per catch (19.7). His receiving yards rank 11th all-time in Miami football history, while his touchdowns (third) and yards per reception (fourth) also rank near the top of record books.
Harding is a two-time All-MAC performer, earning first-team honors a season ago. This season the fifth-year senior started 11 games at defensive back, registering 63 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and nine pass breakups. Harding's lone interception came against Bowling Green and he forced fumbles versus Austin Peay and Eastern Michigan. The Dayton, Ohio, native finishes his Miami career with 290 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, 30 pass breakups and four forced fumbles.
Rigg was named third-team All-MAC, the first All-MAC honor of his career. Rigg started all 12 games at left tackle as part of an offensive line unit that helped Miami rush for 146.9 yards per game on the ground, the highest rushing average during head coach Chuck Martin's tenure.
Allen is also a first-time MAC award winner after being named third team All-MAC. Allen started all 12 games at defensive tackle, recording 25 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and six quarterback hurries this season. Allen finished his career on a high note, recording five tackles in a 28-7 win at Ball State.
2017 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Jason Candle, Toledo
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Logan Woodside, Toledo
Defensive Player of the Year: DE Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
Special Teams Player of the Year: KR Darius Phillips, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year: QB Marcus Childers, Northern Illinois
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: QB Logan Woodside, Toledo
2017 FIRST TEAM ALL-MAC
2017 All-MAC First Team Offense
Position - Name - School
Quarterback - Logan Woodside, Toledo @
Offensive Linemen - Max Scharping, Northern Illinois @
Offensive Linemen - Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan @
Offensive Lineman - Elijah Nkansah, Toledo
Offensive Linemen - Brant Weiss, Toledo
Offensive Linemen - John Keenoy, Western Michigan #
Tight End - Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois
Wide Receiver - Diontae Johnson, Toledo
Wide Receiver - Anthony Johnson, Buffalo
Wide Receiver - James Gardner, Miami ^
Wide Receiver - Sergio Bailey II, Eastern Michigan ^
Running Back - Jarvion Franklin, Western Michigan #&
Running Back - Terry Swanson, Toledo *
Placekicker - Jameson Vest, Toledo
2017 All-MAC First Team Defense
Position - Name - School
Outside Linebacker - Ulysees Gilbert, Akron @
Outside Linebacker - Jim Jones, Kent State
Inside Linebacker - Khalil Hodge, Buffalo #
Inside Linebacker - Quentin Poling, Ohio @!
Down Lineman - Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman - Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineman - Joe Ostman, Central Michigan #%
Down Lineman - Anthony Winbush, Ball State ^
Defensive Back - Amari Coleman, Central Michigan @
Defensive Back - Darius Phillips, Western Michigan @*
Defensive Back - Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back - Shawun Lurry, Northern Illinois #=
Punter - Joe Davidson, Bowling Green @=
2017 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Position - Name - School
Kickoff Return Specialist - Darius Phillips, Western Michigan #%
Punt Return Specialist - Diontae Johnson, Toledo
2017 SECOND TEAM ALL-MAC
2017 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Position - Name - School
Quarterback - Nathan Rourke, Ohio
Offensive Lineman - Jake Pruehs, Ohio ^
Offensive Lineman - Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman - Joe Lowery, Ohio
Offensive Lineman - Luke Juriga, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman - Joe Anderson, Ohio
Tight End - Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan ^
Wide Receiver - Corey Willis, Central Michigan #
Wide Receiver - Justin Hall, Ball State
Wide Receiver - Papi White, Ohio
Wide Receiver - Teo Redding, Bowling Green
Running Back - A.J. Ouellette, Ohio
Running Back - Jonathan Ward, Central Michigan
Placekicker - Jake Suder, Bowling Green
2017 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Position - Name - School
Outside Linebacker - Bobby Jones IV, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker - Chad Moore, Ohio
Inside Linebacker - Robert Spillane, Western Michigan #
Inside Linebacker - Malik Fountain, Central Michigan @
Down Lineman - Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan ^
Down Lineman - Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, Toledo
Down Lineman - Demone Harris, Buffalo
Down Lineman - Jon Cunningham, Kent State ^
Defensive Back - Alvin Davis, Akron
Defensive Back - Josh Cox, Central Michigan ^
Defensive Back - Sam Beal, Western Michigan
Defensive Back - Javon Hagan, Ohio #
Punter - Derek Adams, Kent State
2017 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Position - Name - School
Kickoff Return Specialist - Diontae Johnson, Toledo
Punt Return Specialist - Darius Phillips, Western Michigan #
2017 THIRD TEAM ALL-MAC
2017 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Position - Name - School
Quarterback - Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman - JP Quinn, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman - Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman - James O'Hagan, Buffalo ^
Offensive Lineman - Vinnie Palazeti, Ball State
Offensive Lineman - Jordan Rigg, Miami
Tight End - Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver - Mark Chapman, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver - Scott Miller, Bowling Green @
Wide Receiver - Tra'Von Chapman, Akron
Wide Receiver - Spencer Tears, Northern Illinois
Running Back - Jordan Huff, Northern Illinois
Running Back - Andrew Clair, Bowling Green
Placekicker - Louie Zervos, Ohio @
2017 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Position - Name - School
Outside Linebacker - Jawuan Johnson, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker - Asantay Brown, Western Michigan #!
Inside Linebacker - Jason Beck, Eastern Michigan
Inside Linebacker - Nate Locke, Bowling Green
Down Lineman - Chuck Harris, Buffalo
Down Lineman - Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman - Jamal Davis, Akron
Down Lineman - Ikeem Allen, Miami
Defensive Back - Heath Harding, Miami @
Defensive Back - Demetrius Monday, Kent State =
Defensive Back - Bradd Ellis, Ohio
Defensive Back - Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan
Punter - Derrick Mitchell, Western Michigan
2017 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Position - Name - School
Kickoff Return Specialist - Malik Dunner, Ball State
Punt Return Specialist - Papi White, Ohio
@ 2016 First-Team All-MAC
# 2016 Second-Team All-MAC
^ 2016 Third-Team All-MAC
= 2015 First-Team All-MAC
* 2015 Second-Team All-MAC
! 2015 Third-Team All-MAC
& 2014 First-Team All-MAC
+ 2014 Second-Team All-MAC
% 2014 Third-Team All-MAC
