June 19, 2007

Offical Release

CLEVELAND - Ohio football standouts Kalvin McRae, Jameson Hartke, Chris Garrett, Matt Miller and Landon Cohen garnered recognition today when they were named to the Preseason All-Mid-American Conference teams by MAC Report Online.

The Bobcats were prominent among the MAC Report Online's list of 2007 preseason honors following a 9-5 campaign in 2006 that saw Ohio capture the MAC East Division title and participate in the GMAC Bowl.

Decatur, Ga., native McRae was one of two running backs selected to the site's Preseason All-MAC First Team. The senior-to-be will attempt to continue his assault on the Ohio record book following a 2006 campaign that saw him amass 1,252 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground and catch 29 passes for 280 yards and a score.

Hartke, who hails from Centerville, Ohio, was a first-team selection by MAC Report Online on the defensive line. As a sophomore in 2006, Hartke paced the Bobcats with 7.5 sacks and led all Ohio defensive linemen with 45 total tackles, including 13 for a loss.

One of the most explosive players in the league, Garrett was selected as the punt returner for the Preseason All-MAC First Team. The native of Bristow, Va., had a stellar freshman campaign in 2006 when he led the MAC and ranked seventh in the nation with a 14.5 punt return average, the second-highest mark in school history.

Miller, a native of Mechanicsville, Va., was selected by MAC Report Online as a second-team offensive lineman. He was one of three Bobcat linemen to start all 14 games during Ohio's 2006 championship run, and finished his junior year with a team-leading 61 pancake blocks.

A staple on the Ohio defensive line throughout his career, Cohen was named to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team by MAC Report Online heading into his senior season. The native of Spartanburg, S.C., started all 14 games a year ago and registered a career-best 40 tackles, including 14 for a loss.

The defending MAC East Division champions' five selections were tied for third-most among the 13-member league with Ball State. Last year's champion Central Michigan had seven selections, followed by Western Michigan and Kent State with six apiece.

Central Michigan sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour was tabbed the preseason pick for league Offensive MVP while the site selected Eastern Michigan junior linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw as the Defensive MVP.

The MAC Report Online (macreportonline.com) is a web site dedicated to the coverage of Mid-American Conference men's basketball and football. It is not affiliated with the league.

The Bobcats begin defense of their MAC East Division championship on Sept. 1 versus Gardner-Webb at Peden Stadium. For season ticket information, call the Ohio Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-575-CATS or log on to www.ohiobobcats.com.