Nix Repeats as All-MAC First Team Choice; Five Other Flashes Earn All-Conference
CLEVELAND – Kent State sophomore defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) was named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team for the second straight season Wednesday, while five other Golden Flashes earned all-conference honors. Junior left tackle Brian Winters (Hudson, Ohio), senior cornerback Josh Pleasant (Germantown, Md.) and junior linebacker C.J. Malauulu (Oceanside, Calif.) all claimed second team honors, while junior linebacker Luke Batton (Macedonia, Ohio) and sophomore safety Luke Wollet (Poland, Ohio) each took spots on the third team.
Last year’s MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Nix was one of nine conference players earning a second consecutive first team selection. With 17.0 tackles for loss (T-13 Nationally) and 4.5 sacks, Nix anchored a defense that ranks 20th in the nation in total defense, 18th in pass efficiency defense, 15th in tackles for loss and fifth in turnovers gained. He forced three fumbles on the year and was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week twice.
Also making major contributions to that defense were Pleasant, Malauulu, Batton and Wollet, giving the Golden Flashes five defensive players on the All-MAC team for the first time since 1974. Kent State also had more defensive players on the all-conference teams than any other MAC program this season.
Pleasant, the team’s top cover corner, was a major factor in the Flashes ranking first the conference in pass efficiency defense and third in pass defense. He broke up 11 passes, made two interceptions and tallied 59 tackles.
Malauulu came on strong in his first season at Kent State, finishing second on the team in tackles (83). The junior college transfer recorded 3.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss and displayed range, chasing ball carriers from sideline to sideline.
Winters started all 12 games at left tackle and helped spark the resurgence of the Golden Flashes’ running game in the second half of the season. In its last five games, Kent State averaged 154 yards rushing and did not allow a sack in three of those contests.
Batton led the Golden Flashes with 102 tackles and 50 solo stops. The middle linebacker had 7.0 tackles for loss, broke up three passes, blocked a field goal and recovered a fumble.
Wollet is tied for the MAC lead in interceptions with four, which ranks tied for 27th in the nation. He made 65 tackles, including 4.0 TFL and recovered two fumbles.
At 4-4 in conference play, Kent State finished third of seven teams in the MAC East Division standings.
