Nix Named Mid-Season All-American; Nine Flashes Named to Phil Steele's Midseason All-MAC Team

Kent State freshman defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) was the only Mid-American Conference player named to Phil Steele’s 2010 Midseason All-American Team Wednesday. He and eight other Golden Flashes were also named to the Midseason All-MAC Team. Nix, senior linebacker Cobrani Mixon (Cincinnati, Ohio), junior cornerback Norman Wolfe (Akron, Ohio) and senior safety Brian Lainhart (Cincinnati, Ohio) represented one-third of Steele’s first team defense.

Nix, the surprise of the group, leads the conference in sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (10) and forced fumbles (4), ranking in the top 12 nationally in all three categories. The 255-pound true freshman also leads the team in quarterback hurries (5) and was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11, following his performance in a win over Akron. Nix claimed a fourth-team spot on the All-American team.

Wolfe is among national leaders in interceptions with four, including a pair of picks at Penn State. The former walk-on has also been among the team’s leading tacklers in his last three games with 25 stops during that span.

Mixon and Lainhart, 2009 All-MAC First Team selections, serve as captains on a defense that ranks third in the nation against the run. The former Colerain High School teammates rank first and second on the team in tackles respectively. Mixon’s 55 stops and 3.5 sacks both rank sixth in the MAC. Lainhart has contributed to 18 turnovers in his last 25 games.

Also garnering attention on the defensive side was junior cornerback Josh Pleasant (Germantown, Md.) and senior nose tackle Quinton Rainey (Virginia Beach, Va.). Pleasant was named to the all-conference second team, while Rainey claimed a third team spot. Pleasant has 32 tackles and a team-high seven pass breakups on the year. Rainey leads the conference in fumble recoveries (3) and has tallied 6.0 tackles for loss.

Junior wideout Sam Kirkland (Chesapeake, Va.) and sophomore left tackle Brian Winters (Hudson, Ohio) were both named to the third-team offense, while senior Anthony Bowman (Detroit, Mich.) was the third-team kick returner. Kirkland ranks seventh in the MAC in catches (31) and receiving yards (411).

Winters has started all 18 games in the past two seasons and has anchored an offensive line that has allowed only five sacks in three MAC games. Bowman averages 24.5 yards per kick return and was named MAC East Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 6 following a 92-yard touchdown against Murray State.

The Golden Flashes (2-4, 1-2 MAC) return to Northwest Ohio this weekend, taking on MAC East rival Bowling Green at 3:30 p.m.