2019 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Jim McElwain, Central Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: RB LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: OLB Treshaun Hayward, Western Michigan
Special Teams Player of the Year: K Matthew Trickett, Kent State
Freshman of the Year: QB Brett Gabbert, Miami
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: RB LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan
McElwain is in his first season in leading the Central Michigan program and has the Chippewas in the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game for the first time since 2009. McElwain has led the program to a dramatic turnaround as Central Michigan’s seven wins improvement from last year is the best in FBS this season as the Chippewas have turned a 1-11 overall record, 0-8 in the MAC in 2018, into an 8-4 overall mark in 2019 and the West Division title with a 6-2 league record.
Bellamy, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., leads the nation with 23 rushing touchdowns and ranks eighth in the nation with 1,412 yards rushing this season. Bellamy’s 23 rushing touchdowns this season rank tied for fourth best in MAC single-season history. Bellamy had 248 carries this year and averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 117.7 yards per game. Bellamy was tied for second in the nation with 138 points this season for an average of 11.5 points per game. Bellamy was part of a Western Michigan offense that was second in total offense in the MAC (457.2 yards per game) and third in the MAC in scoring (34.2 points per game).
Hayward, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., led the Broncos and ranked second in the MAC and fifth in the nation with 132 total tackles. His 10.5 tackles for loss ranked tied for 10th in the MAC and his five sacks were tied for seventh most in the league. Hayward added one forced fumble and one fumble recovered. Hayward was part of a Western Michigan defense that ranked second in the MAC in scoring defense (26.2 points per game) as the Broncos are bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season.
Gabbert, a native of St. Louis, Mo., started all 12 games for Miami and led the RedHawks offense with 1,967 yards passing and 10 touchdowns. Gabbert completed 139-of-258 attempts for a 53.8% and averaged 163.9 yards passing per game. Gabbert led Miami to a 7-5 overall record and the MAC East Division title and a trip to the Marathon MAC Football Championship Game for the first time since 2010.
Trickett, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, led the MAC and was tied for second in the country with a career-high 24 field goals made in leading Kent State to a 6-6 overall record, 5-3 in the MAC, and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012. Trickett was 24-of-29 field goals made this season for an 82.7% and led the MAC with 107 total points. His 107 points for an average of 8.9 points per game ranked 21st in the nation.
Western Michigan led the way in 2019 with six First-Team selections, followed by Central Michigan and Buffalo with five First-Team selections, while Ball State featured four First-Team honorees. Overall, Western Michigan set the pace with 13 All-MAC selections, followed by Buffalo with 12 All-MAC selections and Ball State with 10 All-MAC honorees, followed by Central Michigan and Miami with nine All-MAC selections.
There were four students named to their second First Team All-MAC selection: senior safety Javon Hagan (Ohio), sophomore kicker Matthew Trickett (Kent State), senior running back LeVante Bellamy (Western Michigan) and senior offensive lineman Luke Juriga (Western Michigan).