As we approach the beginning of the 2023 college football season, we want to highlight some of the top players in each conference by announcing our SIS Preseason All-Conference teams. We used our all-encompassing player value stat, Total Points, along with other metrics and our scouting work as leading references in putting together our selections.

You can learn more about Total Points and the statistics referenced here.

Offense

Ohio leads the way in the MAC with four All-Conference players on offense. QB Kurtis Rourke led the MAC in Total Points (79) and Expected Points (85). Rourke’s top weapon, WR Sam Wiglusz, was Top-7 in the nation in touchdowns with 11. Wiglusz and WR Jacoby Jones, finished 2nd and 1st for MAC wide receivers in EPA, with 38 and 44. Add Center Parker Titsworth, and Ohio has a weapon at every level to lead it back to Detroit.

Samson Evans looks to be the top-standard for RB’s in the MAC this year. Evans led the MAC in rushing TDs last year, while also not losing a fumble.. His success also comes with leading the MAC in Expected Points (24). Brian Dooley led EMU’s OL with a 1.9% Blown Block (BB) rate last season. 

Two of the top OL come from Toledo; Nick Rosi and Vinny Sciury. Both lineman led the way for Toledo’s MAC championship campaign last year and finished Top-5 in the MAC for Expected Points for OL (minimum 500 snaps) with 36 and 32, respectively. Sciury finished with a Blown Block Rate of 0.7%, and Rosi finished at 1.2%.

Brady Hunt finished 13th in the nation for yards by a TE, while posting a 1.8% Blown Block Rate last season. Deiyantei Powell-Woods, however, led the MAC at 0.7%. Both players look to and lead their respective teams to a possible MAC title.

Defense

Last year, Marcus Fuqua led the MAC with 7 interceptions, and was 4th in Coverage Total Points with 35. Fuqua looks to bring his ‘22 form into the ‘23 season. Along the front-line, Buffalo has Daymond Williams to help pressure opposing quarterbacks. Williams finished last year 5th among MAC DTs with 4.5 total sacks. Fuqua and Williams provide Buffalo the groundwork for a top pass defense next season.

Last year, Quinyon Mitchell was 2nd in the nation in passes defensed with 17 and finished tied for 7th with 5 interceptions. As the primary defender, Mitchell limited QBs to a 34.8% completion percentage. Mitchell is the main man for the Rockets pass defense in 2023. Kempton Shine and Joshua Scott finished Top-10 in the MAC for Coverage Total Points (33 and 34, respectively), while being targeted more than 50 times each. With them was Trey Jones from Central Michigan (33 Coverage Total Points). 

Matthew Salopek and Cole Pearce finished last season with double digit TFLs. Each stood out as primary pass defenders, limiting receivers to less than 1 yard per coverage snap. Vonnie Watkins, Corey Suttle, and Devonte O’Malley impressed against the pass last year. Watkins was 2nd in the MAC with 31 Hurries, and led with 23 QB hits. Suttle was 10th in the MAC with 6 sacks. And O’Malley provided 5 sacks from the defensive tackle position. 

Specialists

Keegan Wilburn was the best kick returner in the MAC last year. In ‘22, he returned one kick for a touchdown and finished 2nd in the nation with 734 kick return yards. Alex McNulty finished last year 24-of-28 on FG attempts (4th nationally in FG made) and was 41-of-42 for the Bulls. He should be a consistent weapon for the Bulls in 2023. Last season, Mitchell Tomasek led the MAC with 43.9 yards per punt. Tomasek looks like a real weapon for EMU next season, and will consistently help them with field position all year.