Crum Named Player of the Year, Seven Named All-MAC
12/1/2021 11:01:00 AM | Football
KENT, OHIO- Quarterback Dustin Crum won the Vern Smith Leadership Award given to the Mid-American Conference's Player of the Year, highlighting seven all-conference awards.
Crum joins running back Eric Wilkerson who earned the Player of the Year honor in 1987 as the only Kent State players to win the award and took home first-team all-conference honors as well. Crum has had a stellar season in which he has thrown for 2,794 yards and 15 touchdowns against four interceptions while completing 65 percent of his passes. The quarterback has also been a threat on the ground, running for 565 yards, tops amongst quarterbacks, and 11 rushing touchdowns.
Joining Crum on the All-Conference first-team is wide receiver Dante Cephas. Cephas is enjoying a breakout season as he became the first Golden Flash to top 1,000 yards receiving since 1997. His 71 catches and 1,022 yards and counting are currently third in the Mid-American Conference and his eight receiving touchdowns are fourth.
Elvis Hines is the third Kent State Golden Flash to earn first-team honors. The defensive back is tied with teammate Montre Miller for third in the conference with 13 passes defended. Hines has also been a versatile defender, ranking fifth on the team with 57 tackles including two for loss.
The Kent State offensive line was well represented with Bill Kuduk earning second team all-conference honors and Nathan Monnin getting named to the third team. The Golden Flashes lead the MAC with 488 yards of offense per game a mark that jumps to 512 yards per game in MAC play. It's been a balanced attack led by the number three rushing attack in the FBS at 247 yards per game. Kuduk and Monnin helped to anchor a line that allowed just 14 sacks in MAC play and had the league's most efficient red zone offense at over 88 percent this season.
Marquez Cooper was one of the main beneficiaries of the blocking up front and takes home second-team all-conference honors. He is one of five running backs in the conference to top 1000 yards this season and the first Kent State back to do it since 2012. Cooper has averaged over 100 yards in MAC play and his 11 rushing touchdowns on the year are third in the conference.
Place kicker Andrew Glass took home third-team all-conference honors as a true freshman. Glass tied for the MAC lead with 19 made field goals this season and has missed just three times in MAC play. He has converted all 43 of his extra points on the year. He is just the sixth Golden Flash to top 100 points in a season. Glass has also been instrumental on kick-offs, Kent State ranks seventh in the nation, allowing just 15 yards per kick return this season.
The Golden Flashes have won the Mid-American Conference East Division for the first time since 2012. They will take on the Northern Illinois Huskies in a rematch of that 2012 title game on Saturday, December 4th. Kick off from Ford Field in Detroit is set for noon, the game will air on ESPN and the Kent State Radio Network.
For the full list of All-Conference teams, please click here.
