Mike Genet | Sports Editor
Four Ball State football players were named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team, as selected by the league's 14 head coaches. It is largest number of first-team selections since the Cardinals had seven in 1996.
Strong safety Justin Beriault was a repeat first-team selection. Junior receiver Dante Ridgeway and senior punter Reggie Hodges were honored for the first time, while tailback Adell Givens became the first freshman on All-MAC First Team in three years.
Beriault, who was also second-team selection at outside linebacker in 2002, started 45 of 46 games and Ball State. His team-high 125 tackles were second in the MAC, and he finished with 508 tackles and four interceptions on his career.
Head coach Brady Hoke said the honor was a fitting end to Beriault's career.
"I don't think there's any question Justin meant an awful lot to the heart and soul of the team. He plays the game how I like it to be played.
"I wish for Justin, Reggie and the seniors that this would've been a year they wanted."
Ridgeway is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation's top receiver. The junior racked up 105 catches for 1,399 yards and eight touchdowns. His 105 catches broke his own school record of 89 and the MAC standard of 103. His yardage figure leads the nation and topped his own school record on 1,075.
Ridgeway will attend the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 9 in Orlando, where the Biletnikoff winner will be announced.
"It's a great honor for Dante, for the program and for Ball State," Hoke said of Ridgeway's nomination. "It says a lot for what he did and hopefully what direction the program is going."
Ridgeway is also considering entry into the NFL Draft, but Hoke said that decision-making process will take several weeks.
Hodges ranked second in the MAC and 26th in the nation with his 42.6 yards per punt. The senior dropped 25 of his 73 kicks inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Hodges holds BSU's career mark with 254 punts, and he averaged 40.2 yards over his career.
Givens started seven of 10 games and rushed for 963 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. His yards-per-game ranked third in the MAC and 28th in the nation. Givens was the first Ball State freshman to start at tailback since Bernie Parmalee in 1987. He lost a chance at breaking Parmalee's freshman rushing record of 1,004 yards when he was suspended for the second-to-last game for academic reasons.
"I would say it is (a surprise), being a freshman," Hoke said of Givens' selection. "It shows his competitiveness, and most people around the league think he has a lot of ability."
Givens was joined by first-team running backs Jerry Seymour of Central Michigan and Garrett Wolfe of Northern Illinois, both of whom ripped BSU for more than 200 yards rushing.
Ball State did not have anybody on second team or honorable mention.
Northern Illinois placed a league-high eight players on the first team. Toledo offensive tackle Nick Kaczur became just the fourth player in MAC history to make all-conference four times. Besides Kaczur and Beriault, three other players were repeat first-team selections -- NIU offensive lineman Jake VerStraete, Toledo receiver Lance Moore and NIU linebacker Brian Atkinson.
Winners of MAC specialty awards will be announced today. Givens is a leading candidate for Freshman of the Year.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
