UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Athlon Sports released its preseason All-Mid-American Conference football team and nine University at Buffalo players were named to the squad. The list was headlined by three first-team selections, wide receiver Anthony Johnson, tight end Tyler Mabry and linebacker Khalil Hodge.
Center James O’Hagan and defensive end Chuck Harris were named to the second team. The third team included quarterback Tyree Jackson and cornerback Cameron Lewis. Offensive lineman Evin Ksiezarczyk and running back Johnathan Hawkins (as an all-purpose player) were named to the fourth team.
Johnson, a senior wide receiver had a breakout season for the Bulls in 2017. Last season he had 76 catches for 1,356 and a school-record 14 touchdowns. Johnson ranked second in the nation in receiving yards per game (113.0) and third in receiving touchdowns (14). He had six games of 140 or more receiving yards which was tops in the country.
Mabry started all 12 games at tight end for the Bulls in 2017. He led all UB tight ends in receiving with 24 receptions for 242 yards and a touchdown on the year. He had at least one catch in 11 of 12 games on the season.
Hodge, a two-time All-MAC selection, totaled more tackles (277) than any other player in the nation over the last two seasons. In 2017, he racked up a MAC-best 154 stops, the most ever by a UB player in its FBS era. He ranked second in the nation in tackles in 2017.
O’Hagan, a two-time third-team All-MAC pick, has been the anchor of the Bulls offensive line, starting every game over his three-year career. Buffalo ran 400 pass plays in 2017 and only allowed 17 sacks.
Harris is coming off the best season of his career, including a third-team All-MAC selection in 2017. The senior defense end ranked third on the team in tackles with 73 and added seven tackles for loss and four sacks last season.
Jackson continues to impress as UB’s starting quarterback. Over eight games in 2017, Jackson threw for 2,096 yards, 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He finished the season strong by averaging 341 yards and throwing nine touchdowns over the final four games of the year. He tied for eighth nationally with eight 50+-yard passes in 2017.
Lewis fought through an injury-riddled season to still put up good numbers in 2017. The senior cornerback had 34 tackles, an interception, four pass breakups and a team-best three forced fumbles in the seven games in which he appeared.
Ksiezarczyk and Hawkins were both named to the fourth team. Ksiezarczyk started 12 games at left tackle in 2017 and helped block for an offense that piled up 5,183 yards of total offense. Hawkins is a versatile running back who excels at receiving. He has averaged 4.2 yards per carry and 4.8 yards per reception over his career.
Click here for the 2018 Athlon Sports Preseason All-MAC Football Team.
The 2018 season kicks off against Delaware State on September 1 at UB Stadium. For tickets and more information please contact the UB ticket office at 1-877-UB-There or click here.
First Team
Anthony Johnson, WR
Tyler Mabry, TE
Khalil Hodge, LB
Anthony Johnson, WR
Tyler Mabry, TE
Khalil Hodge, LB
Second Team
James O’Hagan, OL
Chuck Harris, DE
James O’Hagan, OL
Chuck Harris, DE
Third Team
Tyree Jackson, QB
Cameron Lewis, CB
Tyree Jackson, QB
Cameron Lewis, CB
Fourth Team
Evin Ksiezarczyk, OL
Johnathan Hawkins, AP
Evin Ksiezarczyk, OL
Johnathan Hawkins, AP
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