Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Places Five on CollegeFootballNews.com Preseason All-MAC Team
7/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT – Five Central Michigan University football players have been named to the CollegeFootballNews.com Preseason All-Mid-American Conference team.
Senior defensive end Daniel Bazuin (McBain, Mich./McBain HS), junior linebacker Red Keith (Franklin, Ga./Heard County HS), senior offensive lineman Joe Staley (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) and sophomore running back Ontario Sneed (Decatur, Ill./Clinton Community HS) were all first team selections, while senior receiver Damien Linson (Plymouth, N.C./Plymouth HS) was a second team pick.
Bazuin was chosen by CollegeFootballNews.com as the preseason defensive player of the year and ranked second on the outlet’s list of the top 30 overall players in the league.
Sneed was ranked seventh overall, and second among running backs, on the top 30 list, while Keith was No. 14 and Staley No. 21. Keith was the second highest-ranked linebacker on the list, while Staley was fourth among offensive linemen.
Bazuin, a preseason All-America selection by The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Lindy’s and NationalChamps.net, is the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year. He enters 2006 on the watch lists of five national awards, including the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy, both of which are presented to the nation’s top defensive player.
Bazuin established new CMU single season records for sacks (16) and tackles for loss (26.5) in 2005. His 16 sacks also tied the MAC single-season record. He ranked first in Division I-A in tackles for loss, second in sacks and tied for fourth in forced fumbles (5) in 2005. He enters his senior season already holding CMU career records for sacks (25) and tackles for loss (48.5).
Keith has led CMU in tackles each of the past two seasons. He was an honorable mention preseason All-America selection by NationalChamps.net and preseason all-conference first team pick by The Sporting News. Keith recorded at least 10 tackles in five games last year and led his teammates with four interceptions.
Staley did not allow a sack from his left tackle position in 2005. He was named to Athlon Sports’ preseason All-MAC first team and has been invited, along with Bazuin, to play in the 2007 East-West Shrine Game.
Sneed started 10 games as a true freshman in 2005, running for 1,065 yards and catching a CMU running back-record 51 passes. He earned Freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News and Rivals.com and was an honorable mention All-MAC pick.
Linson has led his teammates in receiving yards each of the past two seasons, catching 56 passes for 832 yards in 2005. He has also developed into a big-play threat on special teams, returning a punt for a score each of the past two years. His 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in last season’s 37-10 win over Ohio was the longest punt return in Kelly/Shorts Stadium history.
CMU opens the 2006 season on Thursday, Aug. 31, hosting Boston College at 6 p.m. ESPN2 will televise the contest live to a national audience.
Senior defensive end Daniel Bazuin (McBain, Mich./McBain HS), junior linebacker Red Keith (Franklin, Ga./Heard County HS), senior offensive lineman Joe Staley (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) and sophomore running back Ontario Sneed (Decatur, Ill./Clinton Community HS) were all first team selections, while senior receiver Damien Linson (Plymouth, N.C./Plymouth HS) was a second team pick.
Bazuin was chosen by CollegeFootballNews.com as the preseason defensive player of the year and ranked second on the outlet’s list of the top 30 overall players in the league.
Sneed was ranked seventh overall, and second among running backs, on the top 30 list, while Keith was No. 14 and Staley No. 21. Keith was the second highest-ranked linebacker on the list, while Staley was fourth among offensive linemen.
Bazuin, a preseason All-America selection by The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Lindy’s and NationalChamps.net, is the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year. He enters 2006 on the watch lists of five national awards, including the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy, both of which are presented to the nation’s top defensive player.
Bazuin established new CMU single season records for sacks (16) and tackles for loss (26.5) in 2005. His 16 sacks also tied the MAC single-season record. He ranked first in Division I-A in tackles for loss, second in sacks and tied for fourth in forced fumbles (5) in 2005. He enters his senior season already holding CMU career records for sacks (25) and tackles for loss (48.5).
Keith has led CMU in tackles each of the past two seasons. He was an honorable mention preseason All-America selection by NationalChamps.net and preseason all-conference first team pick by The Sporting News. Keith recorded at least 10 tackles in five games last year and led his teammates with four interceptions.
Staley did not allow a sack from his left tackle position in 2005. He was named to Athlon Sports’ preseason All-MAC first team and has been invited, along with Bazuin, to play in the 2007 East-West Shrine Game.
Sneed started 10 games as a true freshman in 2005, running for 1,065 yards and catching a CMU running back-record 51 passes. He earned Freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News and Rivals.com and was an honorable mention All-MAC pick.
Linson has led his teammates in receiving yards each of the past two seasons, catching 56 passes for 832 yards in 2005. He has also developed into a big-play threat on special teams, returning a punt for a score each of the past two years. His 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in last season’s 37-10 win over Ohio was the longest punt return in Kelly/Shorts Stadium history.
CMU opens the 2006 season on Thursday, Aug. 31, hosting Boston College at 6 p.m. ESPN2 will televise the contest live to a national audience.
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