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Who are the 12 most important players in the MAC?

Western Michigan Broncos, Bowling Green Falcons, Ohio Bobcats, Miami (OH) RedHawks, Kent State Golden Flashes, Akron Zips, Buffalo Bulls, Central Michigan Chippewas, Northern Illinois Huskies, Ball State Cardinals, Toledo Rockets, Eastern Michigan Eagles

This story appears in ESPN College Football 2016, on newsstands June 7. Order online today!

Bowling Green took out Northern Illinois for the MAC title last season, but will there be changing of the guard in the West Division? Western Michigan returns every key piece to its high-powered offense, including 1,400-plus-yard receiver Corey Davis.

Which other players are invaluable to MAC teams?

East Division

Bowling Green Falcons: LB Austin Valdez

 

The junior tied for the second-most tackles in the FBS (144), including a team-high 11 TFLs.

Ohio Bobcats: LB Quentin Poling

 

Poling is the hybrid, good-in-coverage LB who excels in the pass-happy MAC. And even though he sat out two games last season (knee), he amassed 10.5 TFLs and 4 INTs, two of which he returned to the house.

Miami (OH) RedHawks: DE JT Jones

 

The RedHawks collected 30 sacks last season, a solid showing that was tied for 42nd in the FBS. Jones led the charge (10 sacks, including a school-record four against Eastern Michigan).

Kent State Golden Flashes: S Nate Holley

 

Behind Holley (15-plus tackles in five of his final seven games), the Flashes allowed 4.9 ypp in '15, second best in the MAC.

Akron Zips: QB Thomas Woodson

 

His 2015 stats were mostly pedestrian -- 53.6 QBR, 7.2 ypa -- but in his last three games, Woodson threw five TDs with one interception.

Buffalo Bulls: RB Jordan Johnson

 

Johnson split time with departing Anthone Taylor last year but was the Bulls' go-to back in the red zone. He cashed in 10 TDs inside the 20-yard line, tied for third most in the MAC.

West Division

Western Michigan Broncos: WR Corey Davis

 

He exceeded 100 receiving yards in nine games last year, the most in the country. And Davis' 27 receiving TDs since 2014? Third best.

Central Michigan Chippewas: QB Cooper Rush

 

Who else? In a conference packed with talent, Rush stands out (69.4 QBR, No. 2 in the MAC). Despite attempting the 10th-most passes in the FBS last year (489), he threw just 11 picks.

Northern Illinois Huskies: RB Joel Bouagnon

 

The senior is a true workhorse: 283 rush attempts in 2015 (tied for eighth in the FBS), with 18 TDs on the ground (T10).

Toledo Rockets: RB Kareem Hunt

 

Despite a drop in numbers (973 yards and 12 TDs in a 2015 time-share with Terry Swanson, compared with 1,631 yards and 16 scores in 2014), Hunt is the main attraction. He rushed for 10-plus yards 27 times, No. 7 in the MAC.

Ball State Cardinals: LB Sean Wiggins

 

On a downtrodden defense, one of three in the FBS to allow 2,700 rush yards and 3,500 pass yards, Wiggins emerged as a bright spot -- 10 tackles in three of his last four games.

Eastern Michigan Eagles: DL Pat O'Connor

 

Before sitting out all of last season with injury, O'Connor, one of the MAC's best down linemen, had 7.5 sacks in 2014. All other Eagles defenders combined for 4.5 that year.

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