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Eleven RedHawks earn All-MAC recognition Salopek, Nicholson receive special awards  Linebacker Matt Salopek was voted MAC Defensive Player of the Year. (MVSmith/MRO) Their efforts helped Miami win 10 regular season games and a Mid-American Conference East title. Now, eleven RedHawks have been recognized by MAC coaches with All-MAC honors. Two players also picked up special award recognition. Salopek, who ranks 11th 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. Linebacker Matt Salopek was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Kicker Graham Nicholson was tabbed MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. Salopek, who ranks 11th 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. Overall, MU placed three specialists, four offensive players and four defenders on the All-MAC teams. Among the offensive honorees was quarterback Brett Gabbert, who sustained a season-ending injury against Toledo in Week Eight. See below for a complete list of Miami players receiving honors. There is also a link to the full MAC list. Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Salopek, LB, Miami Special Teams Player of the Year: Graham Nicholson, PK, Miami 2023 All-MAC First Team Offense Placekicker – Graham Nicholson, Miami 2023 All-MAC First Team Defense Down Lineman – Caiden Woullard, Miami Linebacker – Matt Salopek, Miami 2023 All-MAC Second Team Offense Offensive Lineman – Will Jados, Miami Offensive Lineman – Reid Holskey, Miami 2023 All-MAC Second Team Defense Down Lineman – Brian Ugwu, Miami Linebacker – Ty Wise, Miami Punter – Alec Bevelhimer, Miami 2023 All-MAC Second Team Specialists Kickoff Return Specialist – Cade McDonald, Miami 2023 All-MAC Third Team Offense Quarterback – Brett Gabbert, Miami Running Back – Rashad Amos, Miami COMPLETE ALL-MAC LIST/STORY Comments are closed.
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Editor-Publisher Mike SmithMike grew up in Mid-American Conference football and basketball territory and returned there after military service. He has been covering MAC football and men's basketball for much of the last several decades. 
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