Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography Chris Kemme bacame the first Zip to be a three-time All-MAC selection.

AKRON – Led by first team selection Chris Kemme (OL), the University of Akron landed seven student-athletes on the Mid-American Conference all-league team. He was joined by second team picks Dennis Kennedy (RB) and Kevin Grant (LB) along with third team honorees Deryn Bowser (WR), Andre Jones (WR), Almondo Sewell (DL) and Bryan Williams (DB and KOR).

Kemme (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington HS) becomes the first Zip to be a three-time All-MAC selection, earning second team honors in both 2006 and ’07. He also becomes just the eighth Zip to be named first team All-MAC, along with Daron Alcorn, (1992), Vic Green (1992), Jason Taylor (1996), Dwight Smith (2000) and Konrad Dean (2001), Jabari Arthur (2007) and Reggie Corner (2007).

Kemme anchored a unit which was tabbed MAC East Offensive Players of the Week for their effort in Akron’s win over Toledo. That game, the group paved the way for Kennedy, who rushed for 153 yards, and allowed quarterback Chris Jacquemain to throw for 226 yards and three touchdowns, without allowing a sack, in the Zips’ 47-30 win over Toledo. Overall, Akron compiled 458 yards of total offense versus the Rockets, including 232 rushing, and scored five offensive touchdowns. In addition to the exploits of Kennedy (see below), quarterback Chris Jacquemain had one of the best seasons at the position in UA history. The junior threw for 2,748 yards (fourth on the UA season list), 20 touchdowns (third on the UA season list) and had 2,794 yards of total offense (fourth on the UA season list). He also completed 57.9 percent of his passes, fifth behind Charlie Frye who completed at least 58 .8 percent of his passes in each of his four years with the Zips. (58.8, 65.8, 64.8 and 63.6)

Akron’s offense this season ranks 46th in the NCAA in rushing offense (165.17), 45th in passing offense (231.50) and 39th in total offense (396.67). Last season, Akron ranked 90th in the nation in rushing offense (127.83), 100th in passing offense (183.83) and 111th in total offense (311.67). Also, the Zips’ offensive line only allowed 1.5 sacks per game, 35th-best in the NCAA. However, when you exclude teams that primarily run the ball, the Zips rank among the top 15 nationally in protecting the quarterback.

Kennedy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Stranahan HS) picks up second team All-MAC honors for the second time in his career. (He was also second team in 2006 when he rushed for 914 yards and nine touchdowns). Kennedy split time at running back with Alex Allen and Andrew Johnson for the first three games and with just Johnson for an additional two contests. However, after injuries to both Allen and Johnson, Kennedy shouldered the load and had perhaps the best six-game span in the nation to end the season. Over his final six games, he rushed for 1,030 yards, accounted for 1,285 all purpose yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He averaged 6.1 yards per rush and 171.7 rushing yards per game over the span as well.

Kennedy, who rushed for 1,321 yards for the season, ranks 17th in the NCAA and fourth in the MAC in rushing yards per game (110.08 ypg), while ranking 12th in the nation and second in the MAC in scoring (9.17 ppg). His 18 total touchdowns currently rank seventh in the NCAA, while his 17 rushing TDs currently rank fourth nationally.

In his first game as the lone tailback, Kennedy only rushed for 23 yards on 15 carries in a double-overtime win at Kent State. However, he followed that with a then career-high 182 rushing yards on 29 attempts (6.1 avg.) with two touchdowns versus Bowling Green. The next week, at Eastern Michigan, he shattered that performance with 277 rushing yards and three TDs, adding a two-point conversion as well, to be named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in his career. He added 15 receiving yards and his 292 all purpose yards ranks fourth on the UA single-game list. Versus Toledo, he had a career-high 30 rushing attempts and rushed for 153 yards. In the Zips’ four-overtime game with Buffalo, Kennedy accounted for 263 all purpose yards (eighth-best on the UA single-game list with 142 rushing yards and 121 receiving yards) and scored a career-high four touchdowns. He also scored four touchdowns the following week at Ohio, all rushing, and gained 123 yards on the ground. Kennedy closed the season with 153 rushing yards and a team-best six receptions at Temple.

In the UA record book, Kennedy leaves his mark as one of the all-time greats. His 277 rushing yards at EMU ranks second on the UA single-game list, while it stands as the best performance by a Zip in the Division I-A era. He set the UA single-season mark for points in a season (110), rushing TDs in a season (17) and total TDs in a season (18). His 1,231 rushing yards in 2008 ranks third on the UA single-season list and is the best by a Zip in the I-A era, while his 1,635 all purpose yards is sixth-best on the UA seasonal list. For his career, Kennedy ranks eighth on the UA all-time lists with 2,522 yards and 176 points, while ranking seventh on the UA all-time list for all purpose yards (3,345) and 12th on the UA all-time list for receptions (93).

Kennedy led the Zips with 73 first downs gained, including a team-best 23 third-down conversions (19 by rushing and four by receiving). Kennedy was given the gall 27 times on third down and he would attain a first down 19 times (70.4 percent), while converting all seven of his fourth-down situations.

Grant (Herndon, Va./Herndon HS), with his second team selection for 2008, earns his second MAC honor as he was a third team pick in ’07. He led the Zips in tackles for the ’08 season with 85, including 50 solo stops. Grant additionally led the squad with 8.5 tackles for losses and with 4.0 sacks. He also contributed three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries, tying for ninth in the MAC and 89th nationally. Overall, the Zips recovered 17 fumbles this season, currently ranking third in the NCAA in the category (with two teams tied at the top with 18). Grant led the Zips in tackles versus Cincinnati (11) and Army (10), while posting at least seven tackles seven times in 2008. In the Zips’ win at Syracuse, Grant was only credited with six stops, but he had two sacks in the contest. He also had 10 stops versus Ball State, including 1.5 for losses, with a fumble recovery.

For his career, Grant played in and started all 49 UA games over the last four years – third-best among active NCAA players, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2005. He finished his career with 319 tackles – 18th-best among active NCAA players, with 36.0 career TFL – 21st among active NCAA players and fourth on the UA all-time list behind Jason Taylor (41), Brion Stokes (38.5) and Chase Blackburn (38.5). Overall, Grant led the Zips in tackles six times over his four years, including a career-high 15 at Kent State in 2006. He had at least eight TFL in each of his four seasons and tallied at least 73 stops in each of his four years. He was fourth on the squad in tackles in ’05 with 87, second on the team in tackles in ’06 with 74, third on the team in ’07 with 74 and led the squad in ’08 with 85.

Bowser (Long Beach, Calif./Los Angles Harbor College/Washington Prep) made an immediate impact on the Zips’ offense, which had to replace first team All-MAC wideout Arthur. Bowser earned third team distinction by ranking sixth in the MAC and 58th in the NCAA in receiving yards per game (65.42), while ranking ninth in the league and 46th in the NCAA in receptions per game (5.33). He additionally was 54th in the NCAA with 785 total receiving yards and his 64 receptions ranks sixth on the UA single-season list. (Now, five of the six single-season bests for receptions in the UA record book have come since head coach J.D. Brookhart’s arrival in 2005). Bowser was second on the team behind Kennedy, gaining 35 first downs.

Bower started the season opener, despite missing nearly all of the preseason with an injury, catching five passes for 76 yards at Wisconsin. In the Zips’ home opener versus Ball State, he hauled in eight passes for 117 yards. He would catch 10 passes for 72 yards versus Big East champ Cincinnati, who is heralded to have perhaps the best pair of corner backs in the nation, marking just 17th time in UA history a Zips has recorded double digits in receptions. Bowser also caught a TD versus Bearcats, starting a string of three consecutive games with a score. During the string, he was tabbed MAC East Offensive Player of the Week, with five receptions for 77 yards at Kent State. Versus the Flashes, he caught a highlight-reel TD on 4th-and-11 with a minute and a half to play, giving Akron a three-point lead. Bowser established a career-high with 118 yards at Ohio on seven receptions, including a TD.

Jones (Forestville, Md./Avon Old Farms (CT) School/Forestville HS) earns his first All-MAC honor with his third team selection. Although he was one of Akron’s top defensive players in 2006 and ’07, his big-play ability on kick and punt returns made Coach Brookhart move Jones to wide receiver for 2008 to help fill the void left by Arthur. Jones would catch 47 passes in basically just 10 games, ranking 15th on the UA single season receptions list. (He missed one game and played mostly defense in another.) He also had seven receiving TDs, ranking third in the MAC. Jones would rank 16th in the MAC and 92nd in the NCAA in receptions per game (4.27), but ranked 11th in the league and 73rd in the NCAA in receiving yards per game (61.64). Jones was third on the team, gaining 32 first downs.

Although he made the switch to wideout, Jones was forced to play most of the Wisconsin game at cornerback due to depth issues and inexperience. He would show no signs of rust, collecting six tackles, one of which came when he forced a Badger fumble on the UA one, keeping the game close at the break. The following week, Jones played just receiver and had seven catches for 98 yards with two touchdowns in the win at Syracuse. He added 81 receiving yards on just four receptions and a score versus Ball State then was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week, hauling in five passes for 100 yards with a 47-yard TD in the win at Army. Jones also had a big game at Eastern Michigan, scoring twice and catching five passes for 114 yards, while getting 99 yards on eight receptions versus Buffalo.

Sewell (Trenton, N.J./Hargrave Military (VA) Acad./Trenton Central HS) earns third team All-MAC recognition after being a second team pick as a freshman in 2007. He was the constant on a battered UA defensive line, which featured one senior, three sophomores and five freshmen. Sewell led the group with 62 tackles, adding six tackles for losses and a blocked field goal. The sophomore had eight tackles at Syracuse and at Eastern Michigan, while combining for four TFL and 1.5 sacks in wins over Army and Kent State. In the four overtime thriller with Buffalo, Sewell registered a career-high 13 tackles, including a half sack.

Williams (Akron, Ohio/Valley Forge (PA) Acad,/Buchtel HS) was named third team All-MAC in two positions for the second consecutive year. Last year, after ranking second in the NCAA in kick returns and rushing for 728 yards, he was named All-MAC as both a kick return specialist and running back. This season, he was once again honored as a kick return specialist, but added third team All-MAC honors as a defensive back to his resume, which is believed to be the first time a MAC player has ever been named all-conference on both sides of the ball. Williams did set both the UA and MAC records for best kick return average for a career with his average of 30.45 yards per return, breaking a nine-year old MAC record and bettering the second-best mark that has been around since 1959. He also had 1,279 yards on his 42 career kick returns, second on the UA all-time list to Matt Carter (1,366 yards on 59 returns).

This season, teams were not as willing to kick to Williams due to his success in 2007. However, his average of 29.0 yards per kick return this season is third-best on the UA seasonal list and just shy of his UA season record average of 31.9 in 2007. The Akron native still ranked eighth in the NCAA and second in the league in kick returns. The thing that is most impressive, is that was a true average, seeing as how he was one of just two players in the NCAA top 10 not to return a kick for a TD. However, of his 21 kick returns in 2008, 13 went for 25-plus yards, including longs of 50 yards twice and 49 yards twice.

On defense, Williams ranked fifth on the squad with 64 tackles, while his 7.0 tackles for losses was the second-best total on the team (Grant and Mike Thomas tied for the team lead with 8.5). Williams was the only Zip to record an interception, a pass breakup, a fumble caused and a fumble recovery this season. Williams started his career on defense in impressive fashion, getting five tackles with an interception and PBU at Wisconsin. His pass breakup came in the second quarter and would eventually force the Badgers into a field goal. His pick came in the endzone, which he returned 62 yards, allowing the Zips to kick a field goal with 22 seconds left in the first half to go into the locker room down just 17-10. He followed that with seven tackles and a forced fumble at Syracuse and getting a career-high 11 stops versus Ball State. The senior only had two tackles at Army, but had TFL, a forced fumble and a 16-yard fumble recovery, while registering nine tackles versus Cincinnati. Over a three-game span, Williams logged two PBU and 2.5 TFL as the Zips were just edged by Bowling Green and claimed victories over Eastern Michigan and Toledo. He then closed his home away from home – the Rubber Bowl – with 11 tackles versus Buffalo.

In Coach Brookhart’s five years, there have been 27 All-MAC honors bestowed upon the Zips, including the seven this season, a school-record nine in ’07, four in ’06, five in ’05 and two in ’04.

Individual MAC Award Winners
Vern Smith Leadership Award – 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

All-MAC Offense
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, 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

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

All-MAC Defense
First Team
Outside 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
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
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

All-MAC Kickoff Return Specialist
First Team - Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Second Team - Travis Shelton, Temple
Third Team - Bryan Williams, Akron

All-MAC Punt Return Specialist
First Team – Antonio Brown, Central Michigan
Second Team - B.J. Hill, Ball State
Third Team - Eugene Harris, Miami