Eastern Michigan Athletics
Five Eagles Earn Preseason All-MAC Honors
6/15/2016 11:32:00 AM | Football
The players were honored by Athlon Sports
Athlon Preseason All-MAC Teams
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University football team placed five of its players on the 2016 Athlon Sports Preseason All-Mid American Conference Teams, the publication announced, June 15. The Eagles had three second-team honorees and two third-team selections.
Redshirt seniors Darien Terrell (Canton, Mich.-Massillon Jackson) and Pat O'Connor (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita), as well as redshirt junior Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill.-O'Fallon) were named second team offense, defense and special teams, respectively. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) and redshirt junior Luke Maclean (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc (Pittsburgh)) were named third team offense and defense, respectively.
Terrell was the model of consistency for the Eagles' offensive line last season, as he was one of three lineman to start all 12 games. The consistent line play of Terrell and his teammates helped recent graduate Darius Jackson eclipse the 1,000 yard mark, leading him to 1,089 yards on the year, which was the 10th highest total in a single season in program history. The veteran has made 26 starts in three seasons for the Green and White, and has appeared in 33 games overall.
O'Connor was named to the Athlon Preseason All-MAC team for the second straight season, earning first team honors in 2015. In what could have been a breakout season for O'Connor in 2015, it was ultimately cut short when the team captain was forced to miss the entire season with an injury. The Chicago native had a huge 2014 season for the Eagles, being named First Team All-MAC after leading the conference in sacks with 7.5.
Barnes had one of the finest seasons in program history punting the ball for EMU. He finished the season with a 43.6 yards-per-punt average, tying the program record set in 1980. The Illinois native recorded nine punts of 50-or-more yards and pinned opponents inside their own 20 on a career-best 15 occasions, while only allowing one touchback. His 43.6 yard punting average ranked him second in the conference in 2015.
Vann was a breakout star for EMU in 2015, seeing his first action after redshirting in 2014. The running back was effective getting handoffs, as well as a pass catching threat for the Green and White. He finished the season second on the team in rushing with 586 yards on 100 carries, as well as five scores. Vann was also the Eagles' top threat catching out of the backfield, recording 37 receptions for 269 yards and one touchdown. For his efforts, he was named EMU's Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Maclean was a high-impact transfer for Eastern after coming to Ypsilanti from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015. He appeared in 11 games, starting eight times. The Michigan native registered 46 tackles on the season, including a season-high nine versus Ball State, Sept. 19. He also recovered two fumbles, tied for the team-lead with 5.0 sacks, and ranked second on the team with 10.0 TFL's.
The Eagles will open their third season under Head Coach Chris Creighton in just 78 days with a 6 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Sept. 2, versus Mississippi Valley State University on the gray turf inside Rynearson Stadium. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University football team placed five of its players on the 2016 Athlon Sports Preseason All-Mid American Conference Teams, the publication announced, June 15. The Eagles had three second-team honorees and two third-team selections.
Redshirt seniors Darien Terrell (Canton, Mich.-Massillon Jackson) and Pat O'Connor (Chicago, Ill.-Saint Rita), as well as redshirt junior Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill.-O'Fallon) were named second team offense, defense and special teams, respectively. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) and redshirt junior Luke Maclean (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc (Pittsburgh)) were named third team offense and defense, respectively.
Terrell was the model of consistency for the Eagles' offensive line last season, as he was one of three lineman to start all 12 games. The consistent line play of Terrell and his teammates helped recent graduate Darius Jackson eclipse the 1,000 yard mark, leading him to 1,089 yards on the year, which was the 10th highest total in a single season in program history. The veteran has made 26 starts in three seasons for the Green and White, and has appeared in 33 games overall.
O'Connor was named to the Athlon Preseason All-MAC team for the second straight season, earning first team honors in 2015. In what could have been a breakout season for O'Connor in 2015, it was ultimately cut short when the team captain was forced to miss the entire season with an injury. The Chicago native had a huge 2014 season for the Eagles, being named First Team All-MAC after leading the conference in sacks with 7.5.
Barnes had one of the finest seasons in program history punting the ball for EMU. He finished the season with a 43.6 yards-per-punt average, tying the program record set in 1980. The Illinois native recorded nine punts of 50-or-more yards and pinned opponents inside their own 20 on a career-best 15 occasions, while only allowing one touchback. His 43.6 yard punting average ranked him second in the conference in 2015.
Vann was a breakout star for EMU in 2015, seeing his first action after redshirting in 2014. The running back was effective getting handoffs, as well as a pass catching threat for the Green and White. He finished the season second on the team in rushing with 586 yards on 100 carries, as well as five scores. Vann was also the Eagles' top threat catching out of the backfield, recording 37 receptions for 269 yards and one touchdown. For his efforts, he was named EMU's Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Maclean was a high-impact transfer for Eastern after coming to Ypsilanti from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015. He appeared in 11 games, starting eight times. The Michigan native registered 46 tackles on the season, including a season-high nine versus Ball State, Sept. 19. He also recovered two fumbles, tied for the team-lead with 5.0 sacks, and ranked second on the team with 10.0 TFL's.
The Eagles will open their third season under Head Coach Chris Creighton in just 78 days with a 6 p.m. kickoff on Friday, Sept. 2, versus Mississippi Valley State University on the gray turf inside Rynearson Stadium. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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