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Athlon Sports Names 11 Bulls to its Preseason All-MAC Team
6/17/2020 2:12:00 PM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – Athlon Sports released its preseason All-Mid-American Conference football team on Wednesday and 11 University at Buffalo players were named to the squad – tying the most in the MAC's East Division. The list was headlined by five first-team selections, running back Jaret Patterson and offensive lineman Kayode Awosika, defensive ends Taylor Riggins and Malcolm Koonce and safety Tyrone Hill.
Wide receiver Antonio Nunn and linebacker Kadofi Wright were named to the second team. The third team included running back Kevin Marks, offensive lineman Mike Novitsky and defensive tackle Eddie Wilson. Linebacker James Patterson was named to the fourth team.
Entering his junior season, Jaret Patterson is coming off a record-breaking campaign for the Bulls. He rushed for a single-season school record 1,799 yards and scored 19 rushing touchdowns, also a school record in 2019. An All-MAC First Team selection, Patterson led the Mid-American and ranked fifth in the nation in rushing last season. He was named the Walter Camp National Player of the Week after rushing for a single-game school record 298 yards and a MAC-record six touchdowns against Bowling Green on November 29. Patterson has been named a preseason All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation.
Awoski, an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2019, has been the Bulls' starting right tackle for the last two seasons. He was part of a unit that was named honorable mention for the Joe Moore Award as one of the top 15 offensive line units in the nation in 2019. He helped block for an offense that rushed for a school-record 3,256 yards and allowed a program-low eight sacks last season.
Riggins had a breakout season for the Bulls last year. An All-MAC first-team selection, he ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in sacks with 8.5. He added 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries on the year.
Koonce started opposite Riggins at the other defensive end spot last season. He led the MAC in sacks with nine en route to earning All-MAC first-team honors. He added 34 tackles and 11 tackles for loss on the year. He was named the Defensive MVP of the 2019 Bahamas Bowl after recording five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble against Charlotte.
Hill started all 13 games at safety in 2019. He ranked third on the team in tackles with 70, including three for loss and was named to the All-MAC Second Team. Hill also led the team in pass breakups with 10.
Nunn is UB's top returning receiver after leading the Bulls in receiving with 49 catches for 687 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. Named to the All-MAC Third Team in 2019, Nunn had at least two receptions in every game he played.
Wright had 31 tackles, two sacks and a pair of interceptions in 2019. He scored two defensive touchdowns on the year, including a fumble recovery at Akron and a pick six against Central Michigan.
A 1,000-yard back for the Bulls, Marks rushed for career-best 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019. The Virginia native had a rushing touchdown in each of the last six games of the regular season.
Only a redshirt-freshman, Novitsky had a strong campaign as the Bulls starting center in 2019. He started every game and was a key component to the Bulls' record-breaking rushing attack.
The Bulls ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense in 2019 and that was due in large part to the play of defensive tackle Eddie Wilson. The New Jersey native started all 13 games last season and had 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
James Patterson started 10 games at outside linebacker as a sophomore last season. He had 40 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks on the season. He added a forced fumble and an interception.
Click here for the 2020 Athlon Sports Preseason All-MAC Football Team.
The 2020 season is scheduled to kick off on September 5 at Kansas State.
For ticket information, please contact the UB Ticket Office at 1-877-UB-THERE or by clicking here.
First Team
Jaret Patterson, RB
Kayode Awosika, OL
Taylor Riggins, DE
Malcolm Koonce, DE
Tyrone Hill, S
Second Team
Antonio Nunn, WR
Kadofi Wright, LB
Third Team
Kevin Marks, RB
Mike Novitsky, OL
Eddie Wilson, DT
Fourth Team
James Patterson, LB
Wide receiver Antonio Nunn and linebacker Kadofi Wright were named to the second team. The third team included running back Kevin Marks, offensive lineman Mike Novitsky and defensive tackle Eddie Wilson. Linebacker James Patterson was named to the fourth team.
Entering his junior season, Jaret Patterson is coming off a record-breaking campaign for the Bulls. He rushed for a single-season school record 1,799 yards and scored 19 rushing touchdowns, also a school record in 2019. An All-MAC First Team selection, Patterson led the Mid-American and ranked fifth in the nation in rushing last season. He was named the Walter Camp National Player of the Week after rushing for a single-game school record 298 yards and a MAC-record six touchdowns against Bowling Green on November 29. Patterson has been named a preseason All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation.
Awoski, an All-MAC Second Team selection in 2019, has been the Bulls' starting right tackle for the last two seasons. He was part of a unit that was named honorable mention for the Joe Moore Award as one of the top 15 offensive line units in the nation in 2019. He helped block for an offense that rushed for a school-record 3,256 yards and allowed a program-low eight sacks last season.
Riggins had a breakout season for the Bulls last year. An All-MAC first-team selection, he ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in sacks with 8.5. He added 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries on the year.
Koonce started opposite Riggins at the other defensive end spot last season. He led the MAC in sacks with nine en route to earning All-MAC first-team honors. He added 34 tackles and 11 tackles for loss on the year. He was named the Defensive MVP of the 2019 Bahamas Bowl after recording five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble against Charlotte.
Hill started all 13 games at safety in 2019. He ranked third on the team in tackles with 70, including three for loss and was named to the All-MAC Second Team. Hill also led the team in pass breakups with 10.
Nunn is UB's top returning receiver after leading the Bulls in receiving with 49 catches for 687 yards and six touchdowns in 2019. Named to the All-MAC Third Team in 2019, Nunn had at least two receptions in every game he played.
Wright had 31 tackles, two sacks and a pair of interceptions in 2019. He scored two defensive touchdowns on the year, including a fumble recovery at Akron and a pick six against Central Michigan.
A 1,000-yard back for the Bulls, Marks rushed for career-best 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019. The Virginia native had a rushing touchdown in each of the last six games of the regular season.
Only a redshirt-freshman, Novitsky had a strong campaign as the Bulls starting center in 2019. He started every game and was a key component to the Bulls' record-breaking rushing attack.
The Bulls ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense in 2019 and that was due in large part to the play of defensive tackle Eddie Wilson. The New Jersey native started all 13 games last season and had 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
James Patterson started 10 games at outside linebacker as a sophomore last season. He had 40 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks on the season. He added a forced fumble and an interception.
Click here for the 2020 Athlon Sports Preseason All-MAC Football Team.
The 2020 season is scheduled to kick off on September 5 at Kansas State.
For ticket information, please contact the UB Ticket Office at 1-877-UB-THERE or by clicking here.
First Team
Jaret Patterson, RB
Kayode Awosika, OL
Taylor Riggins, DE
Malcolm Koonce, DE
Tyrone Hill, S
Second Team
Antonio Nunn, WR
Kadofi Wright, LB
Third Team
Kevin Marks, RB
Mike Novitsky, OL
Eddie Wilson, DT
Fourth Team
James Patterson, LB
Players Mentioned
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