Brian
Jackson (Dothan, Ala./Northview H.S.), a senior
placekicker on the Ball State University football team,
was named the Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player
of the Year in voting conducted by the MAC News Media
Association.
In voting conducted by the league’s 12 head
football coaches, Ball State sophomore punter Chris
Miller (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel H.S.), was named to
the All-MAC First Team. |
| In addition,
the league coaches selected Ball State’s Cortlan
Booker (West Lafayette, Ind./West Lafayette H.S.), Jackson,
Erik Keys (Indianapolis, Ind./Broad Ripple H.S.)
and Dante Love (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow H.S.) to
the All-MAC Second Team. Darius Hill (Blue
Springs, Mo./Blue Springs H.S.) received honorable mention
on the All-MAC team. |
|
Jackson led the
conference with an 89.5 percent field goal percentage, led
the MAC with a 97.4 percent mark on extra points, was
second in the conference with 17 field goals made and
ranked fourth in the league in scoring with 7.3 points per
game. He connected on 17-of-19 field goals and made
37-of-38 extra points in 2006. |
| Jackson made 49
career field goals, which ranks as the third best mark in
Ball State history, while his 111 career extra points made
set a new Ball State school record. He currently
ranks 12th in the nation with 1.42 field goals per game
and is 29th in the nation in scoring. |
| Miller
led the MAC and ranks second in the country with a 46.26
average. He punted 57 times for 2,637 yards with a
long punt of 78 yards. Of his 57 punts, 20 were
downed inside the opponents 20-yard line, 10 were
touchbacks and six were fair caught. Opponents
returned 26 punts for a 7.2 average with a long return of
15 yards. |
| Booker
was fourth on the Cardinals in tackles with 64 and led the
team with 14 tackles for loss plus added five sacks, one
fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and four quarterback
hurries. |
| Keys led
Ball State with 90 tackles and tied a Ball State school
record with four fumble recoveries plus added four tackles
for loss, one sack and one interception, which he returned
35 yards for a touchdown at Michigan. |
| Love led
Ball State with 52 catches for 735 yards and four
touchdowns. He also averaged 4.4 yards per rush and
had one rushing touchdown and averaged 16.6 yards per
kickoff return. |
| Hill led
Ball State and tied a BSU school record with 10 touchdown
receptions. He tallied 42 catches for 741 yards and
a 17.6 yards-per-catch average this season. |
| This was the
second straight season for Miller to receive
all-conference first-team recognition, while the remaining
Ball State players were honored for the first time in
their careers. Jackson is the first Ball State
player to receive the MACNMA Special Teams Player of the
Year Award. |
| Ball State
finished the 2006 season with a 5-7 overall record and
posted a 5-3 MAC mark to tie for third in the MAC West
Division. |
