Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hicks Named MAC Defensive Player of the Year
December 06, 2001 | Football
Dec. 6, 2001
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University senior nose tackle Brandon Hicks was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year by The Sporting News. Hicks anchored a unit which finished fourth in the country in rushing defense and third in turnover margin. In addition, BGSU was the top rated overall defense in the MAC.
Hicks finished the season with 52 tackles including 14 for a loss and seven sacks. He had an interception for a touchdown, nine quarterback hurries, a safety, two pass deflections and a forced and recovered fumble.
Senior linebacker Khary Campbell, who led the Falcons with 79 tackles and led the MAC with five fumble recoveries was a first-team selection as was junior Robert Redd who was selected as the team's punt returner.
BGSU Coach Urban Meyer was named coach of the year. He also has been chosen for that honor by collegefootballnews.com and the MAC News Media Association.
MAC All Conference Team (As selected by The Sporting News)
Overall player of the year: Byron Leftwich
Defensive player of the year: Brandon Hicks, Bowling Green
Offensive player of the year: Byron Leftwich, Marshall
Freshman of the year: Ben Roethlisberger, Miami
Coach of the year: Urban Meyer, Bowling Green
OFFENSE OT Konrad Dean, Akron OG Brian Hallett, Kent State C Nick Otterbacher, Toledo OG David Miller, Ball State OT Ben Herrell, Miami TE Mobolaji Afariogun, Western Michigan WR Darius Watts, Marshall WR P.J. Fleck, Northern Illinois QB Byron Leftwich, Marshall RB Chester Taylor, Toledo RB Marcus Merriweather, Ball State K Steve Azar, Northern Illinois KR Corey Parchman, Ball State
DEFENSE DT Anthony Allsbury, Western Michigan DT Brandon Hicks, Bowling Green DE David Bockmore, Toledo DE Jason Babin, Western Michigan LB Max Yates, Marshall LB James Harrison, Kent State LB Khary Campbell, Bowling Green CB Vince Thompson, Northern Illinois CB Michael Owens, Marshall S Andy Boyd, Toledo S Matt Pusateri, Miami P Dave Zastudil, Ohio PR Robert Redd, Bowling Green
