Temple University Athletics
Five Temple Owls Named to All-MAC Teams
12.3.08 | Football
Dec. 3, 2008
CLEVELAND - Five Temple football players were named to the 2008 All-Mid-American Conference teams on Wednesday.
Earning First-Team honors was senior DT Terrance Knighton (Windsor, Conn.). Senior center Alex Derenthal (Davie, Fla.), junior NT Andre Neblett (Rayhway, N.J.), and senior KOR Travis Shelton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) were named to the Second Team, while senior WR Bruce Francis (Sicklerville, N.J.) was a Third-Team honoree.
During its second season of MAC play, the Owls tied for second place in the East Division with a 4-4 record while finishing with a 5-7 overall record, the team's most wins since 1990.
One of two senior starters on defense, Knighton ranks No. 2 in the MAC in fumbles recoveries. In the win at Ohio, he recovered his third fumble of the season with 4:43 to go, setting up TU's game-winning touchdown. Temple's 2007 Defensive MVP, Knighton helped the d-line lead the MAC in red zone and third-down defense. He blocked a kick at Navy, the fourth of his career. He finished the season with 54 tackles, 7.5 TFL, and 13 ball disruptions this season.
Derenthal finished his career with a school record 47 consecutive starting appearances at center. A candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, Rimington Trophy, and Rudy Award, he is a two-time team captain. Named to the 2007 AFCA Good Works Team, Derenthal earned the team's Offensive MVP honor in 2007 and Team MVP accolades in 2006 as a sophomore.
An All-MAC Second-Team honor in 2007, Neblett is a three-year starter at nose tackle. A candidate for the Bronko Nagursky Trophy and the Rotary Lombardi Award, the junior had 7.5 TFL, two forced fumbles, a recovery, and a sack. The catalyst of the defensive line, Neblett helped the d-line lead the MAC in red zone and third-down defense.
Temple's career leader in kickoff return yards, Shelton finished his career with 2,507 KOR yards. The Owls have ranked among the nation's Top 3 all season, holding the No. 1 spot for three weeks. An All-America candidate, Shelton ranks No. 1 in the MAC and No. 3 nationally with a 31.30 KOR average. He had a 92-TD return at Kent State.
Francis became Temple's Division I-A career leader in receiving TDs this fall, finishing his career with 23. The Owls' leading receiver with 687 yards on 45 catches for a Div. I-A school record 13 touchdowns, Francis finished his collegiate career with a reception in a school record 38 consecutive games.
For the second consecutive year, NIU's English was presented with the Vern Smith Leadership Award
The All-MAC teams and the Vern Smith Leadership Award were selected by the MAC head coaches.
In awards voted by the MAC News Media Association, Ball State's Brady Hoke was named Coach of the Year, Ball State quarterback Nate Davis as Offensive Player of the Year, Larry English of Northern Illinois as Defensive Player of the Year, Antonio Brown of Central Michigan as Special Teams Player of the Year, and Sean Baker of Ball State as Freshman of the Year.
FIRST TEAM Center - Dan Gerberry, Ball State Lineman - Robert Brewster, Ball State Lineman - Andrew Hartline, Central Michigan Lineman - Chris Kemme, Akron Lineman - Andre Ramsey, Ball State Tight End - Darius Hill, Ball State Quarterback - Nate Davis, Ball State Wide Receiver - Jamarko Simmons, Western Michigan Wide Receiver - Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo Wide Receiver - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan Wide Receiver - Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan Running Back - MiQuale Lewis, Ball State Running Back - James Starks, Buffalo Placekicker - Nate Parseghian, MiamiOutside Linebacker - Clayton Mullins, Miami Outside Linebacker - Austin Pritchard, Western Michigan Inside Linebacker - Nick Bellore, Central Michigan Inside Linebacker - Joe Hudson, Miami Down Lineman - Larry English, Northern Illinois Down Lineman - Frank Zombo, Central Michigan Down Lineman - Diyral Briggs, Bowling Green Down Lineman - Terrance Knighton, Temple Defensive Back - Louis Delmas, Western Michigan Defensive Back - B.J. Hill, Ball State Defensive Back - Davonte Shannon, Buffalo Defensive Back - Barry Church, Toledo Punter - Jake Richardson, Miami
SECOND TEAM Center - Alex Derenthal, Temple Lineman - Augustus Parrish, Kent State Lineman - Jeff Niedermier, Buffalo Lineman - Josh Leuck, Ohio Lineman - T. J. Lang, Eastern Michigan Tight End - Branden Ledbetter, Western Michigan Quarterback - Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan Wide Receiver - Nick Moore, Toledo Wide Receiver - Dante Love, Ball State Wide Receiver - Stephen Williams, Toledo Wide Receiver - Jacory Stone, Eastern Michigan Running Back - Dennis Kennedy, Akron Running Back - Eugene Jarvis, Kent State Placekicker - Mike Salerno, Northern Illinois
Outside Linebacker - Derek Burrell, Kent State Outside Linebacker - Noah Keller, Ohio Inside Linebacker - Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan Inside Linebacker - Kevin Grant, Akron Down Lineman - Andre Neblett, Temple Down Lineman - Jameson Hartke, Ohio Down Lineman - Zach Davidson, Western Michigan Down Lineman - Brandon Crawford, Ball State Defensive Back - E.J. Biggers, Western Michigan Defensive Back - Londen Fryar, Western Michigan Defensive Back - Mike Newton, Buffalo Defensive Back - Brian Lainhart, Kent State Punter - Chris Miller, Ball State
THIRD TEAM Center - Eddie Adamski, Northern Illinois Lineman - Jon Brost, Northern Illinois Lineman - Phillip Sawnson, Western Michigan Lineman - Jason Onyebuagu, Northern Illinois Lineman - Greg Wojt, Central Michigan Tight End - Andrew Mooney, Ohio Quarterback - Tim Hiller, Western Michigan Wide Receiver - Andre Jones, Akron Wide Receiver - Deryn Bowser, Akron Wide Receiver - Bruce Francis, Temple Wide Receiver - Juan Nunez, Western Michigan Running Back - Brandon West, Western Michigan Running Back - DaJuane Collins, Toledo Placekicker - Andrew Aguila, Central Michigan
Outside Linebacker - Justin Winters, Buffalo Outside Linebacker - Boston McCornell, Western Michigan Inside Linebacker - Bryant Haines, Ball State Inside Linebacker - Tim McCarthy, Northern Illinois Down Lineman - Brandon Bice, Northern Illinois Down Lineman - Joe Coniglio, Miami Down Lineman - Almondo Sewell, Akron Down Lineman - Sean Murnane, Central Michigan Defensive Back - Steven Jackson, Ohio Defensive Back - Trey Buice, Ball State Defensive Back - Robbie Wilson, Miami Defensive Back - Bryan Williams, Akron Punter - Nick Iovinelli, Bowling Green
Kickoff Return Specialist First Team - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan Second Team - Travis Shelton, Temple Third Team - Bryan Williams, Akron
Punt Return Specialist First Team - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan Second Team - B.J. Hill, Ball State Third Team - Eugene Harris, Miami
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Larry English, Northern Illinois Coach of the Year: Brady Hoke, Ball State Offensive Player of the Year: Nate Davis, Ball State Defensive Player of the Year: Larry English, Northern Illinois Special Teams Player of the Year: Antonio Brown, Central Michigan Freshman of the Year: Sean Baker, Ball State
