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Toledo football captures several top awards from MAC after historic season

Mid-American Conference postseason awards for football were announced on Wednesday with the Rockets earning several top honors.

TOLEDO, Ohio — The Mid-American Conference announced their league awards on Wednesday for football and the University of Toledo was well represented after a historic season.

Quarterback Dequan Finn was named as the league's most valuable player, head coach Jason Candle won coach of the year and running back Peny Boone was awarded with offensive player of the year honors. 

Additionally, 14 Rockets made it on an All-MAC squad, with 10 being on first-team all-conference. 

This is the first time that UT has won league MVP, coach of the year and offensive player of the year since 2017 when Logan Woodside captured the two player honors and Candle won his first coach of the year award.

The 10 first-team All-MAC honorees are the second most in school history and the most by any MAC program since 1999 when Marshall had 13 first-team players.

The Rockets are currently 11-1 overall and finished the regular season a perfect 8-0 in the MAC. They won the west division of the conference and are set to play in the championship game on Saturday at Ford Field against Miami. 

Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. was named to first-team All-MAC offense and defensive back Jalen Huskey landed on first-team defense. 

The Falcons finished the regular season 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the conference, winning five out of their last six games. They also earned bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season.

Here are all the postseason awards and all-MAC teams:

Coach of the Year: Jason Candle, Toledo
Vern Smith Leadership Award: Dequan Finn, QB, Toledo
Offensive Player of the Year: Peny Boone, RB, Toledo
Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Salopek, LB, Miami
Special Teams Player of the Year: Graham Nicholson, PK, Miami
Freshman of the Year: Jalen Buckley, RB, Western Michigan

2023 All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback - Dequan Finn, Toledo
Offensive Lineman - Corey Stewart, Ball State
Offensive Lineman - Nolan Potter, NIU
Offensive Lineman - Nick Rosi, Toledo
Offensive Lineman - Vinny Sciury, Toledo
Offensive Lineman - Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
Tight End - Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Wide Receiver - Chrishon McCray, Kent State
Wide Receiver - Sam Wiglusz, Ohio
Wide Receiver - Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
Wide Receiver - Kenneth Womack, Western Michigan
Running Back - Antario Brown, NIU
Running Back - Peny Boone, Toledo
Placekicker - Graham Nicholson, Miami

2023 All-MAC First Team Defense

Down Lineman - CJ Nunnally, Akron
Down Lineman - Sidney Houston, Ball State
Down Lineman - Caiden Woullard, Miami
Down Lineman - Judge Culpepper, Toledo
Linebacker - Matt Salopek, Miami
Linebacker - Bryce Houston, Ohio
Linebacker - Keye Thompson, Ohio
Linebacker - Dallas Gant, Toledo
Defensive Back - Jalen Huskey, Bowling Green
Defensive Back - Devin Grant, Buffalo
Defensive Back - Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Defensive Back - Maxen Hook, Toledo
Punter - Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan

2023 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist - Marion Lukes, Central Michigan
Kickoff Return Specialist - Jacquez Stuart, Toledo

2023 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback - Kurtis Rourke, Ohio
Offensive Lineman - Deiyantei Powell-Woods, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman - Brayden Swartout, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman - Brian Dooley, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman - Will Jados, Miami
Offensive Lineman - Reid Holskey, Miami
Tight End - Anthony Torres, Toledo
Wide Receiver - Daniel George, Akron
Wide Receiver - Jasaiah Gathings, Akron
Wide Receiver - Tanner Knue, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver - Jesse Prewitt III, Central Michigan
Running Back - Marquez Cooper, Ball State
Running Back - Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
Placekicker - Andrew Glass, Kent State

2023 All-MAC Second Team Defense

Down Lineman - Jacques Bristol, Central Michigan
Down Lineman - Brian Ugwu, Miami
Down Lineman - James Ester, NIU
Down Lineman - Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
Linebacker - Cole Pearce, Ball State
Linebacker - Darren Anders, Bowling Green
Linebacker - Joe Sparacio, Eastern Michigan
Linebacker - Ty Wise, Miami
Defensive Back - Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green
Defensive Back - Donte Kent, Central Michigan
Defensive Back - Yahsyn McKnee, Miami
Defensive Back - JaVaughn Byrd, NIU
Punter - Alex Bevelhimer, Miami

2023 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist - Jaylon Jackson, Eastern Michigan
Kickoff Return Specialist - Cade McDonald, Miami

2023 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback - Brett Gabbert, Miami
Offensive Lineman - Damon Kaylor, Ball State
Offensive Lineman - Alex Wollschlaeger, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman - Gabe Wallace, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman - Tyler Doty, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman - Addison West, Western Michigan
Tight End - Tanner Koziol, Ball State
Wide Receiver - Odieu Hiliare, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver - Luke Floriea, Kent State
Wide Receiver - Trayvon Rudolph, NIU
Wide Receiver - Anthony Sambucci, Western Michigan
Running Back - Rashad Amos, Miami
Running Back - Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan
Placekicker - Luke Pawlak, Toledo

2023 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Down Lineman - CJ West, Kent State
Down Lineman - Vonnie Watkins, Ohio
Down Lineman - Rayyan Buell, Ohio
Down Lineman - Darius Alexander, Toledo
Linebacker - Bryan McCoy, Akron
Linebacker - Cashius Howell, Bowling Green
Linebacker - Kyle Moretti, Central Michigan
Linebacker - Chase Kline, Eastern Michigan
Defensive Back - KJ Martin, Akron
Defensive Back - Davon Ferguson, Bowling Green
Defensive Back - Chris McDonald Jr., Toledo
Defensive Back - Keni-H Lovely, Western Michigan
Punter - Lucas Borrow, Ball State

2023 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist - Jhaylin Embry, Bowling Green
Kickoff Return Specialist - Ron Cook, Buffalo

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