With every MAC team in action across the first three days of Week 1, all 12 teams took part in 12 different contests in the MAC to start the 2024 season. The level of competition certainly differed for each team, but here’s the best we saw from MAC players in Week 1.
Week 1 MAC Players of the Week
As a reminder, our conference Players of the Week series is a weekly recurring honor given to the top players from the MAC. These honors are bestowed upon the players immediately following all the action from the conference in a given week.
Like our Team of the Week and Players of the Week honors at the national level, all factors are considered, including the quality of the opponent, contribution to team success, the time and impact of a player’s individual efforts, and many other factors.
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In some instances, the player of the week for their respective side of the ball would naturally be duplicated at their respective position. Instead of duplicating players, we’re awarding an overall offensive and defensive player of the week based on their total overall impact. We then remove them from the running for their position-specific honor and highlight the top honoree from the remaining players at their respective positions.
Here’s the best of the best from the MAC in Week 1.
Week 1 MAC QB of the Week: Joe Labas, Central Michigan
CMP: 18
ATT: 24
YDs: 342
AVG: 14.3
TD: 3
INT: 0
RSH YDs: 1
RSH TDs: 0
Week 1 MAC Offensive Player of the Week: Terion Stewart, RB, Bowling Green
RSH: 14
YDs: 161
AVG: 11.5
LONG: 73
TD: 3
Week 1 MAC Skill Player of the Week: Anthony Tyus III, RB, Ohio
RSH: 16
YDs: 203
AVG: 12.7
LONG: 46
TD: 2
Week 1 MAC Offensive Lineman of the Week: Alex Wollschlaeger, OT, Bowling Green
BGSU ran for an average of 9.2 yards per carry with five scores on the ground and 305 total rushing yards, all while not allowing a single sack.
Week 1 MAC Defensive Player of the Week: James Djonkam, LB, Eastern Michigan
Pressures: 4
Sack: 1
TFL: 1.5
Tackles: 13
Week 1 MAC Defensive Lineman of the Week: Anthony Hawkins, DT, Bowling Green
Pressures: 3
Sack: 2
TFL: 2.5
Tackles: 7
Week 1 MAC Secondary Player of the Week: Brandon Awls, S, Toledo
Sack: 0.5
TFL: 0.5
PBU: 1
INT: 1
Tackles: 9
Week 1 MAC Special Teams Player of the Week: Justin Pegues, Bowling Green
Total Returns: 4
YDs: 139
AVG: 34.7
TD: 1
Week 1 MAC Freshman of the Week: Jaion Jackson, CB, Central Michigan
Solo Tackle: 3
Total Tackle: 5
For all of CFN’s Players of the Week from each conference: AAC | ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | CUSA | Mountain West | SEC | Sun Belt | National | Team of the Week