Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn was tabbed the winner of the 42nd Vern Smith Leadership Award as the top player in the MAC. Rockets' Head Coach Jason Candle was selected as the Head Coach of the Year, while UT's Peny Boone earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. Miami linebacker Matt Salopek was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year, while RedHawk placekicker Graham Nicholson was selected as the Special Teams Player of the Year. Western Michigan running back Jalen Buckley earned Freshman of the Year honors, rounding out the specialty award selections.
Finn is Toledo's first Vern Smith Leadership Award winner, awarded annually to . . .
This is Candle's second MAC Coach of the Year award, with his first coming in 2017. He is now the fourth Rocket head coach to win multiple MAC Coach of the Year awards, joining Gary Pinkel, Chuck Stobart, and Frank Lauterbur. Candle has coached Toledo to an 11-1 record and will be appearing in his third MAC Championship Game since taking over as head coach. He is the first Toledo coach to have multiple seasons with at least 11 wins since Lauterbur achieved that feat in 1969 and 1970. Candle also has the Rockets nationally ranked for the first time since the 2015 season.
Boone is Toledo's first Offensive Player of the Year since Logan Woodside in 2017, and just the third ever in school history. The junior running back has turned in one of the finest seasons ever by a Rocket running back in 2023 and ranks among the national leaders in rushing yards per carry (7.43-2nd), total rushing yards (1,359-5th), rushing yards per game (113.2-7th), rushing touchdowns (15-8th) and total touchdowns (16-11th). A three-time MAC West Offensive Player of the Week, Boone has eight 100-plus yard rushing performances including a high of 211 vs. Western Michigan. He has been even better against MAC competition, averaging 129.8 yards per game in eight league contests.
Salopek, who ranks 11th nationally with 125 tackles, is the first RedHawk to be named MAC Defensive Player of the Year since Quinten Rollins in 2014. He had a career-high 18 tackles in the win over Cincinnati and has recorded double-digit tackles seven different times in 2023. He added 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and an interception for a defense that allowed just 86 points in eight conference games in 2023.
Nicholson, a Lou Groza Award finalist, has been nearly perfect this season, connecting on 23-of-23 field goal attempts and 33-of-34 extra points. He is 8-of-8 on field goals over 40 yards, and has made a field goal in all 12 games this year.
The All-MAC First, Second & Third Teams were also announced and are listed below.
Coach of the Year: Jason Candle, Toledo
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: 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 McKee, Miami
Defensive Back – JaVaughn Byrd, NIU
Punter – Alec 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