The University of Akron Athletics
Dwight Smith Tabbed MAC Defensive Player of the Year
November 30 | Football
AKRON - University of Akron senior football standout Dwight Smith (Detroit, Mich./Central) has been selected Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
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Dwight Smith |
One of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, recognizing the nation's premier defensive back, Smith received 33 of 61 votes cast by the MAC News Media Association. Toledo lineman DeJuan Goulde was runnerup with nine votes.
Smith becomes the first Akron Zip to win either the Offensive or Defensive Player of the Year for the MAC. A year ago, tailback Brandon Payne (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) captured conference Freshman-of-the-Year notice.
The nation's co-leader with 10 interceptions in 11 games, Smith already has been chosen first-team All-American by the Football Writers' Association of America (FWAA), the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Football News. Today, he was named third-team All-American by The Sporting 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). Marshall, however, will play in this Saturday's MAC championship game by virtue of its 31-28 win over the Zips on Oct. 28. 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 Dec. 1 in Huntington, W. Va. Smith will be in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 7 for the Thorpe Award announcement.
SMITH, RITLEY RECOGNIZED BY TWO NATIONAL
PUBLICATIONS
Three Akron Zips were selected on each of The Sporting
News and Football News All-MAC teams for 2000.
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Tim Ritley |
Heading the list is senior first-teamer Dwight Smith, an All-America defensive back and finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. He was selected by both publications. Junior tight end Tim Ritley (Perry/Lake Perry) is first team Football News and second team TSN. Ritley developed into an outstanding blocker and caught 16 passes for 250 yards and one score.
Senior wide receiver Lavel Bailey (Cleveland/JFK) is a
first-team pick, according to Football News. Bailey broke
Akron career marks for receptions (138) and receiving yardage
(2,577). A TSN second-team pick is running back Brandon Payne
(Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) the Zips' first Division I-A
1,000-yard rusher (1,062) who tied a school record with 16
touchdowns. Akron finished 6-5 overall and co-champs of the MAC
East.
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