Six Zips Earn All-MAC Football Honors

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CLEVELAND– Six University of Akron football players have earned Mid-American Conference honors, the MAC announced on Wednesday.

Earning first-team All-MAC recognition was junior DB Alvin Davis, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Senior LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ocala, Fla.), redshirt senior DE Jamal Davis II (Canton, Ohio), and senior DB Kyron Brown (Fla.) garnered second-team All-MAC honors. Junior LB John Lako (Monroe, Mich.) and senior LB Brian Bell (Valdosta, Ga.) were third-team All-MAC honorees.

A second-team All-MAC selection in 2017, Alvin Davis is the top defensive back (and fourth overall) with 71 tackles, a national-best/team-best four interceptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a break-up. In the win at Northwestern, he recorded two interceptions for two touchdowns and 147 return yards en route to two National Defensive Player of the Week awards from Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik. Against Northern Illinois, Davis recorded 15 tackles. A preseason second-team All-MAC selection by Athlon Sports, Davis was also named to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List.

A two-time first-team All-MAC honoree in 2016 and 2017, team captain Gilbert is second on defense with 79 tackles, 7.5 TFL, two fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, and a break-up. At Iowa State, he had 12 tackles. He also recorded 10 takedowns against Central Michigan and at Eastern Michigan. A preseason first-team All-MAC selection by Athlon Sports, Gilbert was also named to the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists.

A third-team All-MAC honoree in 2017, this fall Jamal Davis is the top lineman and third overall with 77 tackles, a team-best 14.5 TFL for a loss of 57 yards, a team-best six break-ups, a team-best six hurries, 4.0 sacks, and a forced fumble. The two-year starter had a season-high 12 tackles against Northern Illinois. Against Central Michigan, he had 1.5 sacks for a loss of 10 yards. Davis was a preseason first-team All-MAC selection by Athlon Sports.

Team captain Brown has 41 tackles, five break-ups, a sack, and an interception. In the win at Northwestern, he had seven tackles. At Buffalo, Brown had three solo stops and an interception. At Ohio, he had four tackles and his first collegiate sack for a loss of six yards. Brown was named the Defensive MVP overall and Defensive MVP in the weight room following spring drills. A preseason second-team All-MAC selection by Athlon Sports, Brown was also named to the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List.

A walk-on turned scholarship player, Lako is the Zips' defensive leader with 118 tackles, 9.5 TFL for a loss of 26 yards, three hurries, a fumble recovery, and a hurry. He recorded a career-high 23 tackles, including 2.0 TFL, against Central Michigan. A CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-America nominee, Lako earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 28 from the MAC and from College Sports Madness. He also earned MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (for all sports) twice this fall.

In nine games, Bell has 59 tackles, six break-ups, 3.5 TFL, a sack, and a forced fumble. He recorded 14 tackles, including eight solo stops and 2.0 TFL, against Northern Illinois. A three-year starter, Bell earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors from College Sports Madness on Sept. 17 following his 11 tackles and five break-ups in the win at Northwestern.

Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden, Akron (4-7 overall) closes out the 2018 season on Saturday, Dec. 1, at South Carolina. Kickoff is slated for Noon at Williams-Brice Stadium. The SEC Network Alternate will televise the game nationally.

2018 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE HONORS

MAC Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Lance Leipold, Buffalo
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
Defensive Player of the Year: DE Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois
Special Teams Player of the Year: KR/PR Diontae Johnson, Toledo
Freshman of the Year: RB Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: DE Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois

2018 All-MAC FIRST Team Offense
Quarterback – Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
Offensive Linemen – Max Scharping, Northern Illinois &@
Offensive Linemen – Luke Juriga, Western Michigan +
Offensive Lineman – Joe Lowery, Ohio +
Offensive Linemen – James O'Hagan, Buffalo %^
Offensive Linemen – Joe Anderson, Ohio +
Tight End – Tyler Mabry, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Anthony Johnson, Buffalo &
Wide Receiver – Diontae Johnson, Toledo &
Wide Receiver – Cody Thompson, Toledo @
Wide Receiver – Papi White, Ohio +
Running Back – LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan
Running Back – A.J. Ouellette, Ohio +
Placekicker – Matt Trickett, Kent State

2018 All-MAC FIRST Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Brad Koenig, Miami
Outside Linebacker – Antonio Jones-Davis, Northern Illinois
Inside Linebacker – Khalil Hodge, Buffalo &#
Inside Linebacker – Malik Fountain, Central Michigan +@
Down Lineman – Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois &
Down Lineman – Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan &
Down Lineman – Michael Danna, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Chuck Harris, Buffalo %
Defensive Back – Alvin Davis, Akron +
Defensive Back – Sean Bunting, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Javon Hagan, Ohio +#
Defensive Back – Xavier Crawford, Central Michigan
Punter – Michael Farkas, Ohio ^

2018 All-MAC FIRST Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Maurice Thomas, Miami ^
Punt Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo &

2018 All-MAC SECOND Team Offense
Quarterback – Nathan Rourke, Ohio +
Offensive Lineman – John Keenoy, Western Michigan &#
Offensive Lineman – Bryce Harris, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Luke Shively, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Durrell Wood, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Evin Ksiezarczyk, Buffalo
Tight End – Reggie Gilliam, Toledo
Wide Receiver – K.J. Osborn, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Scott Miller, Bowling Green %@
Wide Receiver – Jayden Reed, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Riley Miller, Ball State
Running Back – Tre Harbison, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
Placekicker – Ryan Tice, Central Michigan

2018 All-MAC SECOND Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – Evan Croutch, Ohio
Outside Linebacker – Ulysees Gilbert III, Akron &@
Inside Linebacker – Kyle Pugh, Northern Illinois
Inside Linebacker – Kyle Rachwal, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineman – Josh Corcoran, Northern Illinois %
Down Lineman – Jamal Davis, Akron %
Down Lineman – Kalil Morris, Kent State
Down Lineman – Doug Costin, Miami
Defensive Back – Cameron Lewis, Buffalo
Defensive Back – Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back – Mykelti Williams, Northern Illinois
Defensive Back – Kyron Brown, Akron
Punter – Jake Julien, Eastern Michigan

2018 All-MAC SECOND Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Diontae Johnson, Toledo +
Punt Return Specialist – Jayden Reed, Western Michigan

2018 All-MAC THIRD Team Offense
Quarterback – Gus Ragland, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan +
Offensive Lineman – Danny Godlevske, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Steve Nielsen, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Jack Kramer, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Jordan Rigg, Miami %
Tight End – Giovanni Ricci, Western Michigan
Wide Receiver – Blake Banham, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Justin Hall, Ball State +
Wide Receiver – Jon'Vea Johnson, Toledo #
Wide Receiver – Jack Sorenson, Miami
Running Back – Andrew Clair, Bowling Green %
Running Back – Jamauri Bogan, Western Michigan !
Placekicker – Jameson Vest, Toledo &

2018 All-MAC THIRD Team Defense
Outside Linebacker – John Lako, Akron
Outside Linebacker – Christian Albright, Ball State
Inside Linebacker – Brian Bell, Akron
Inside Linebacker – Jacob White, Ball State
Down Lineman – Tuzar Skipper, Toledo
Down Lineman – Jack Heflin, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan +^
Down Lineman – Nate Brisson-Fast, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Marcus Milton, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Vince Calhoun, Eastern Michigan %
Defensive Back – Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan &
Defensive Back – Josh Teachey, Toledo
Punter – Kyle Kramer, Miami

2018 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Malik Dunner, Ball State %
Punt Return Specialist – K.J. Osborn, Buffalo

& 2017 First-Team All-MAC
+ 2017 Second-Team All-MAC
% 2017 Third-Team All-MAC

@ 2016 First-Team All-MAC
# 2016 Second-Team All-MAC
^ 2016 Third-Team All-MAC

= 2015 First-Team All-MAC
* 2015 Second-Team All-MAC
! 2015 Third-Team All-MAC

The University of Akron Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Brian Bell

Kyron Brown

Jamal Davis II

Alvin Davis, Jr.

Ulysees Gilbert III

John Lako

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