It's May 19, which means it must be time for ridiculously early preseason football all-conference teams, plus a dash of way-too-early criticism of said preseason picks.
Phil Steele is the first one on deck. He released his preseason All-MAC team Wednesday, with some curious choices.
Steele has a first through fourth team and an honorable mention team. Only one Huskie – running back Chad Spann – appears on the first team. The only three players on the second team are quarterback Chandler Harnish, left tackle Trevor Olson and linebacker Alex Kube.
Just to make this clear, NIU's defense last year was first in the MAC total defense, third in scoring, third in rushing defense, tied for second in sacks, second in opponent first downs and returns nine regular starters. Yet out of 24 available spots to put an NIU defender on the first and second teams, Steele found a place for only one.
For the record, I think Steele does an outstanding job of previewing the BCS conferences and the top level teams, but when it comes to the non-BCS schools, he leaves a lot to be desired.
Steele's third team includes NIU wide receiver Landon Cox, Tommy Davis at both kick returner and punt returner, defensive end Sean Progar and cornerbacks Chris Smith and Patrick George.
On the fourth team you'll find right guard Joe Pawlak, linebacker Pat Schiller (who might miss a significant part of the season, if not the entire season because of a torn knee ligament), safety Tracy Wilson and punter Josh Wilber. Update 1:23 p.m: I'm told that Schiller is ahead of schedule in his rehab and could be back for the conference portion of the schedule, if not sooner.
Only one Huskie was named honorable mention, and it was running back Jasmin Hopkins. Steele clearly likes that signing.
Here are Steele's teams in full, with a couple of comments from me:
First Team Offense
QB Zac Dysert, Miami (Ohio) 16 INTs, 12 TDs, 10th in the MAC in passing efficiency in 2009, but has a world of potential
RB Bernard Pierce, Temple Easy choice
RB Chad Spann, NIUAlso an easy choice
WR Eric Page, Toledo MAC teams have at least two more seasons of chasing him around
WR LaVon Brazill Ohio He torched NIU last year in Athens
WR Robert Arnheim Western Michigan, Not the best WR on his own team
TE Vaughn Charlton Temple What? He played QB last year and is now a first team tight end? What?
C Colin Miller, Central Michigan Great center, no-brainer
OG Colin Madison, Temple
OG Peter Bittner, Buffalo
OT Anthony Parker, Western Michigan
OT Brandon Brooks, Miami (Ohio)
KR James Nixon, Temple
PR LaVon Brazill, Ohio
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First Team Defense
DE Adrian Robinson, Temple 12 sacks last year, arguably the best DE in the MAC
DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
DT Almondo Sewell, Akron He's still here?
DE Robert Eddins, Ball State
LB Noah Keller, Ohio Keller's been one of the best in the conference for a long time now
LB Nick Bellore, Central Michigan So has he
LB Cobrani Mixon, Kent State I'm naming my first kid Cobrani, with a built-in nickname of Cobra
LB Elijah Joseph, Temple
CB Josh Pleasant, Kent State, His 11 pass breakups were second in the MAC last season
CB Domonic Cook, Buffalo
SS Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple
FS Brian Lainhart, Kent State
K Matt Weller, Ohio
P Matt Rinehart, Kent State Apparently if you're named Matt, you're a good kicker/punter in the MAC. Good news for incoming NIU freshman Mathew Sims? Or does he need both T's?
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Second Team Offense
QB Chandler Harnish, NIU
RB MiQuale Lewis, Ball State Yep, he's back for another season
RB Eugene Jarvis, Kent State
WR Juan Nunez, Western Michigan He's the best wideout on his team
WR Armand Robinson, Miami (Ohio)
WR Tyshon Goode, Kent State Only a sophomore
TE Ben Thayer, Eastern Michigan
C John Palumbo, Temple
OG Phillip Swanson, Western Michigan
OG Mike Ward, Akron
OT Darius Morris, Temple
OT Trevor Olson, NIU
KR Eric Page, Toledo
PR Delano Green, Temple
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Second Team Defense
DE Monte Simmons, Kent State
DT Ernie Hodge, Ohio
DT Sean Murnane, Central Michigan
DE Dak Notestine, Ohio
LB Alex Kube, NIU
LB Archie Donald, Toledo
LB Brian Wagner, Akron
LB Jerrell Wedge, Miami (Ohio)
CB Brandon Stephens, Miami (Ohio)
CB Manley Waller, Akron
SS Davonte Shannon, Buffalo
FS Anthony Kokal, Miami (Ohio)
K Ian McGarvey, Ball State
P Ben Armer, Western Michigan
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Third Team Offense
QB Spencer Keith, Kent State
RB Ike Nduka, Buffalo
RB Aaron Winchester, Western Michigan
WR Landon Cox, NIUAfter Page, the best WR pro prospect in the conference. He's only third team because of his numbers, not his skill, ability, size, speed, hands, etc.
WR Jordan White, Western Michigan
WR Terrence McCrae, Ohio
TE Madaris Grant, Ball State
C Ben Bojicic, Bowling Green
OG Jeff Maddux, Central Michigan
OG Michael Switzer, Ball State
OT Joe Flading, Ohio
OT Corey Woods, Akron
KR Tommy Davis, NIU
PR Tommy Davis, NIU
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Third Team Defense
DE Hasan Hazime, Akron
DT Quinton Rainey, Kent State
DT Marcellis Williamson, Ohio
DE Sean Progar, NIUHe won't be here at season's end
LB Amara Kamara, Temple Best name in the conference, hands down
LB Davyd Jones, Ball State
LB Justin Winters, Buffalo
LB Matt Berning, Central Michigan
CB Chris Smith, NIU
CB Patrick George, NIU
SS Gerald Moore, Ohio
FS Doug Wiggins, Western Michigan
K A.J. Principe, Buffalo
P Scott Kovanda, Ball State
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Fourth Team Offense
QB Chester Stewart, Temple. No offense to Stewart but it needs to be said. Anyone who calls the MAC the conference of quarterbacks this year doesn't know what they're talking about.
RB Willie Geter, Bowling Green
RB Dwayne Priest, Eastern Michigan
WR Jeremy LaFrance, Akron
WR Briggs Orsbon, Ball State
WR Jamal Rogers, Miami (Ohio)
TE Danny Noble, Toledo
C Kevin Kowalski, Toeldo
OG Joe Pawlak, NIU
OG Nick Clemens, Western Michigan
OT Rocky Weaver, Central Michigan
OT Mike VanDerMeulen, Toledo
KR Eric Williams, Ball State
PR Charlie Todd, Ball State
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Fourth Team Defense
DE Stafford Gatling, Ohio
DT Kevin Alvarado, Bowling Green
DT Brandon Slater, Eastern Michigan
DE Freddie Bishop, Western Michigan
LB Pat Schiller, NIU
LB Mike Thomas, Akron
LB Travis Freeman, Ball State
LB Dorian Wood, Kent State
CB Charlie Todd, Ball State
CB Josh Thomas, Buffalo
SS Sean Baker, Ball State
FS Tracy Wilson, NIU Are we sure Steele didn't accidently flip-flop the third and fourth team safeties?
K Brandon McManus, Temple
P Josh Wilber, NIU
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Honorable Mention Offense
QB Phil Bates, Ohio
RB Morgan Williams, Toledo
RB Jasmin Hopkins, NIU
WR Rod Streater, Temple
WR James Green, Toledo
WR Jalil Carter, Akron
TE Jordan Thompson, Ohio
C Chris Anzevino, Kent State
OG Eric Herman, Ohio
OG Nate Williams, Miami (Ohio)
OT Tyler Donahue, Bowling Green
OT Jordan Jerrold, Buffalo
KR Anthony Bowman, Kent State
PR Leneric Muldrow, Kent State
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Honorable Mention Defense
DE Zach Williams, Kent State
DT Alex Johnson, Toledo
DT Chris Jones, Bowling Green
DE Doug Westbrook, Toledo
LB Steven Means, Buffalo
LB Dex Jones, Western Michigan
LB Eugene Fells, Bowling Green
LB Jamail Berry, Western Michigan
CB Marquise Liverpool, Temple
CB Daxton Swanson, Toledo
SS Dan Hartman, Kent State
FS Steven Jackson, Ohio
K Freddy Cortez, Kent State
P Brett Hartmann, Central Michigan
So what does everybody think?
