Six Bulls Earn All-MAC Honors
12/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY - Six University at Buffalo football players were named to the All-Mid-American Conference Team on Wednesday.
Safety Davonte Shannon and wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt were repeat selections to the first team, while tight end Jesse Rack also earned first-team honors. Guard Peter Bittner and safety Mike Newtonwere named to the second team. Wide receiver Brett Hamlin was named to the third team.
Shannon, a junior, was named to the first team for the third straight year. He led the Bulls with 97 tackles and also had a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss. He added a pair of interceptions, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. He had three double-digit tackle games, including a season-high 15 tackles in the Bulls' win over Miami (OH).
Roosevelt was a first-team selection for the second straight year and an All-MAC choice for the third time. Roosevelt led the Bulls in receiving with 70 catches for 964 yards and nine touchdowns in only 10 games. The Buffalo native had five 100-yard receiving games and finished his career holding nearly every Buffalo career receiving record. He saved one of the best games of his career for last with an eight-catch, 165-yard, three-touchdown performance against Ohio in his final game.
Newton was a second-team selection for the second straight year. The senior safety had 85 tackles, including a team-best 52 solo efforts. He added two interceptions, eight pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries. He was named MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week following the Bulls' win over Akron. The hard-hitting safety had eight tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception and a pass breakup against the Zips.
Along with Bittner, Hamlin was a first-time All-MAC selection. The senior receiver was named to the third team. Hamlin had the best season of his career, ranking second on the team in receiving with 64 catches for 898 yards - both career highs. It was a well-deserved honor for a receiver who was often overshadowed by Roosevelt. Hamlin finished his career third in school history in receptions (185) and fifth in receiving yards (2,190).
This marked the second straight season the Bulls had six All-MAC selections. Since 2007, Buffalo has had 20 players selected to the All-MAC team. Prior to 2007, the Bulls had a total of nine players named All-MAC.
