Ohio had 11 players named to 2017 Mid-American Conference Postseason all-conference teams, the MAC announced today.
Middle linebacker Quentin Poling was the highest selected Bobcat and was named First Team All-MAC inside linebacker. He finished with 102 tackles, including 12.5 for a loss.
This is Poling's second straight year as a First Team All-MAC linebacker. Now a redshirt senior, Poling was Third Team All-MAC in 2015, too. He has amassed 370 total tackles in his four years as a Bobcat.
Ohio had six players named All-MAC Second Team Offense players, too.
Left tackle Joe Lowery, left guard Joe Anderson and center Jake Pruehs were named to the team, as were quarterback Nathan Rourke, running back A.J. Ouellette and wide receiver Papi White.
Lowery, Anderson and Pruehs helped anchor an offense that led the MAC in scoring (38.9 points per game) and rushing (244.2 yards per game). The Bobcats also rushed for 40 touchdowns as a team. Ouellette, a redshirt junior, was Ohio's leading rusher with 980 yards.
Rourke, a sophomore, was second on the team in rushing with 882 yards and a school record 21 touchdowns on the ground. He also threw for 2,018 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
White was the team's leading receiver with 525 yards and two touchdowns, despite missing four games with a hand injury. White was also named Third Team All-MAC Punt Return Specialist.
On the defensive side, linebacker Chad Moore and safety Javon Hagan were named to the Second Team.
Moore was named as an outside linebacker due to his 74 tackles, 37 of which were solo, and three interceptions. He, along with Poling, helped anchor a defense that finished first in rushing defense in the conference (111.4 yards allowed).
Hagan, the defending MAC Freshman of the Year, finished with 79 tackles and an interception.
Kicker Louie Zervos was named Third Team All-MAC placekicker, and cornerback Bradd Ellis was named Third Team All-MAC cornerback as well.
Zervos connected on 56 of his 57 PAT attempts, as well as 15 of his 18 field goal attempts. His season long was 46 yards.
Ellis finished with 56 tackles, two interceptions — both of which were returned for touchdowns — and 20 pass breakups. 20 pass breakups ranked second in the nation and is a school record.
On a conference scale, Toledo was represented twice: Jason Candle won Coach of the Year and quarterback Logan Woodside won Offensive Player of the Year. Northern Illinois defensive end Sutton Smith won Defensive Player of the Year, while quarterback Marcus Childers won Freshman of the Year. Western Michigan defensive back and kick returner Darius Phillips won Special Teams Player of the Year.
The MAC Championship Game is Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit, where Toledo will face Akron.
