The University of Akron Athletics
Smith Accorded TSN Mid-American Player Of The Year
November 30 | Football
AKRON, Ohio -- University of Akron senior football standout Dwight Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central) has been selected The Sporting News Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.
The nation's co-leader with 10 interceptions in 11 games, Smith is one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, recognizing the nation's premier defensive back. Yesterday, he was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, receiving 33 of 61 votes cast by the MAC News Media Association.
Based in St. Louis, The Sporting News selected Smith as MAC Player of the Year and Western Michigan's Gary Darnell as MAC Coach of the Year. The Broncos won the MAC West Division crown and play Marshall Saturday in Huntington, W. Va., for the conference championship.
The 5-11, 205-pounder has compiled quite a list of awards since the Zips' season ended with a 34-6 win at Kent State on Nov. 18, being chosen first-team All-American by the Football Writers' Association of America (FWAA), the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Football News.
Smith scored three defensive touchdowns in the Zips' final two games and helped coach Lee Owens' squad gain a share of the Mid-American East Division title (6-5, 5-1 MAC East). Smith's 208 interception return yards are a UA record, the fourth highest total in MAC history. He led the MAC with 19 passes defended.
The Zips' star is under consideration for the MAC Vern Smith
Award, presented each year to the league's outstanding player. The
winner will be announced tomorrow during a noon luncheon in
Huntington. Smith will be in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 7 for the Thorpe
Award announcement (ESPN 9-11 p.m.).
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