11/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
KENT, Ohio
- The Kent State University football team landed five student-athletes on the 2006 All-Mid-American Conference Football Team, the conference office announced today. Senior defensive end Daniel Muir (Lanham, Md./Parkdale) was the lone Golden Flash named to the first team, as he picked up All-MAC honors for the second straight season.
In addition to Muir, the Golden Flashes also had sophomore quarterback Julian Edelman (Redwood City, Calif./Woodside), senior wide receiver Najah Pruden (Burlington, N.J./Burlington) and senior defensive backs Usama Young (Largo, Md./Largo) and Andre Kirkland (Upper Marlboro, Md./Largo) each earn All-MAC Second Team accolades.
Muir started all 12 games for the Golden Flashes, posting 52 tackles, 11 of which were for a loss of yards. He also totaled 5.5 sacks, forced two fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown. He closed his career playing in 46 games, with 198 tackles, 35 tackles for a loss and 15 sacks. His career sacks total ranks tied for third all-time at Kent State, while he ranks seventh in career tackles for a loss. A year ago, Muir was All-MAC Second Team.
Edelman started all 11 games he played in his first season at Kent State. He completed 134-of-242 passes (55.4 percent) for 1,859 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also rushing for 658 yards and seven touchdowns, a team high. Edelman's 2,517 yards of total offense were the fifth-most in a single season in school history, while his passer rating of 124.44 is the fourth-best in a single season. He was twice named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week this season.
Pruden capped his career as one of the top receivers in Kent State history, ranking second all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns, while placing fifth in receptions. In 2006, Pruden totaled 39 receptions for 808 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 20.7 yards per catch, fourth-best in the league and 45th in the nation. For his career, Pruden played in 43 games, totaling 113 receptions for 2,131 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Kirkland finished as the team leader in tackles with 104, while also leading the club in 13.5 tackles for a loss. He also tied for the team lead with four interceptions and had four forced fumbles. Kirkland finished eighth in the conference in tackles and seventh in tackles for loss. He posted six double-digit tackle games this season, and was named the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week once.
Young posted 60 tackles and two interceptions in making 11 starts in 12 games for the Golden Flashes. He also added three tackles for a loss, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles. For his career, Young played in 45 games, making 26 career starts. He totaled 198 career tackles and nine interceptions, finishing one interception outside Kent State's all-time top 10.
The group helped Kent State post a five-win turnaround in 2006, as the Golden Flashes finished 6-6 overall and 5-3 in the MAC, one year removed from going winless in conference play. The Flashes also finished second in the MAC East Division, KSU's highest finish since the league went to divisional play in 1997.
Kent State had not posted a MAC record over .500 since 2001 and did so for just the 15th time in 56 years in the conference. The Golden Flashes also posted five conference victories in a single season for just the seventh time.
