12 RedHawks Earn All-MAC; Salopek, Nicholson Capture POY Awards

12 RedHawks Earn All-MAC; Salopek, Nicholson Capture POY Awards

11/29/2023 10:58:00 AM | Football

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Twelve members of the Miami University football team earned All-MAC honors, while Matt Salopek was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Graham Nicholson earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors.

Caiden Woullard joined Salopek and Nicholson on the first team, while Will Jados, Reid Holskey, Brian Ugwu, Ty Wise, Yahsyn McKee, Alec Bevelhimer and Cade McDonald (returner) were named second team All-MAC. Brett Gabbert and Rashad Amos were placed on the third team.

Salopek, who ranks 11^th nationally with 125 tackles, is the first RedHawk to be named MAC Defensive Player of the Year since Quinten Rollins in 2014. He had a career-high 18 tackles in the win over Cincinnati and has recorded double-digit tackles seven different times in 2023. He added 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and an interception for a defense that allowed just 86 points in eight conference games in 2023.

Nicholson, a Lou Groza Award finalist, has been nearly perfect this season, connecting on 23-of-23 field goal attempts and 33-of-34 extra points. He is 8-of-8 on field goals over 40 yards, and has made a field goal in all 12 games this year.

A complete list of the All-MAC teams and specialty awards can be found below.

2023 MAC Football Postseason Specialty Awards & All-Conference Teams
Coach of the Year: Jason Candle, Toledo
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Dequan Finn, QB, Toledo
Offensive Player of the Year: Peny Boone, RB, Toledo
Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Salopek, LB, Miami
Special Teams Player of the Year: Graham Nicholson, PK, Miami
Freshman of the Year: Jalen Buckley, RB, Western Michigan
2023 All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Dequan Finn, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Corey Stewart, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Nolan Potter, NIU
Offensive Lineman – Nick Rosi, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Vinny Sciury, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
Tight End – Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Chrishon McCray, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Sam Wiglusz, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Kenneth Womack, Western Michigan
Running Back – Antario Brown, NIU
Running Back – Peny Boone, Toledo
Placekicker – Graham Nicholson, Miami

2023 All-MAC First Team Defense
Down Lineman – CJ Nunnally, Akron
Down Lineman – Sidney Houston, Ball State
Down Lineman – Caiden Woullard, Miami
Down Lineman – Judge Culpepper, Toledo
Linebacker – Matt Salopek, Miami
Linebacker – Bryce Houston, Ohio
Linebacker – Keye Thompson, Ohio
Linebacker – Dallas Gant, Toledo
Defensive Back – Jalen Huskey, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Devin Grant, Buffalo
Defensive Back – Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Defensive Back – Maxen Hook, Toledo
Punter – Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan

2023 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Marion Lukes, Central Michigan
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jacquez Stuart, Toledo

2023 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Kurtis Rourke, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Deiyantei Powell-Woods, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Brayden Swartout, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Brian Dooley, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Will Jados, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Reid Holskey, Miami
Tight End – Anthony Torres, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Daniel George, Akron
Wide Receiver – Jasaiah Gathings, Akron
Wide Receiver – Tanner Knue, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Jesse Prewitt III, Central Michigan
Running Back – Marquez Cooper, Ball State
Running Back – Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
Placekicker – Andrew Glass, Kent State

2023 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Down Lineman – Jacques Bristol, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Brian Ugwu, Miami
Down Lineman – James Ester, NIU
Down Lineman – Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
Linebacker – Cole Pearce, Ball State
Linebacker – Darren Anders, Bowling Green
Linebacker – Joe Sparacio, Eastern Michigan
Linebacker – Ty Wise, Miami
Defensive Back – Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Donte Kent, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Yahsyn McKee, Miami
Defensive Back – JaVaughn Byrd, NIU
Punter – Alec Bevelhimer, Miami

2023 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jaylon Jackson, Eastern Michigan
Kickoff Return Specialist – Cade McDonald, Miami

2023 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – Brett Gabbert, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Damon Kaylor, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Alex Wollschlaeger, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Gabe Wallace, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Tyler Doty, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Addison West, Western Michigan
Tight End – Tanner Koziol, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Odieu Hiliare, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Luke Floriea, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Trayvon Rudolph, NIU
Wide Receiver – Anthony Sambucci, Western Michigan
Running Back – Rashad Amos, Miami
Running Back – Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan
Placekicker – Luke Pawlak, Toledo

2023 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Down Lineman – CJ West, Kent State
Down Lineman – Vonnie Watkins, Ohio
Down Lineman – Rayyan Buell, Ohio
Down Lineman – Darius Alexander, Toledo
Linebacker – Bryan McCoy, Akron
Linebacker – Cashius Howell, Bowling Green
Linebacker – Kyle Moretti, Central Michigan
Linebacker – Chase Kline, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back – KJ Martin, Akron
Defensive Back – Davon Ferguson, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Chris McDonald Jr., Toledo
Defensive Back – Keni-H Lovely, Western Michigan
Punter – Lucas Borrow, Ball State

2023 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jhaylin Embry, Bowling Green
Kickoff Return Specialist – Ron Cook, Buffalo