Here is what an All MAC NFL roster might look like, under the salary cap. After doing the Group of 5 roster, I noticed there were just enough players to try an All MAC roster. It doesn’t quite fit the criteria exactly, as we have an extra 2015 rookie deal and replace 2 2016 deals with rookies, but it still fills out a full, playable roster. After looking at the player pool, I decided to go with a spread/power offensive scheme, and a hybrid 2-4-5 base defense.
The Criteria
- The roster must be under the current salary cap of $167M
- We use the league average on rookie deals, which is 5 from 2014, 6 from 2015, and 9 from 2016.
- We will include one rookie from each round of the draft (were applicable)
- We will have a well rounded roster that includes role players and special teams
- Players are selected from schools within the conference as it is right now, not when they played
The Offense
Quarterbacks
| QBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | Cooper Rush | Zac Dysert |
| PIT | DAL | DAL |
| $18.2M | $457K | $615K |
| Miami (OH) | Central Michigan | Miami (OH) |
We start the offense off with one of the best players at the position, from the Miami (OH) RedHawks, Ben Roethlisberger. Backing him up will be a pair of teammates from the Cowboys. First is the surprise UDFA that won the backup job behind Dak Precott, Central Michigan’s Cooper Rush. Next is another RedHawk, Zac Dysert.
3 roster spots filled, 50 left
$19.272M Spent | $147.728M Left
Running Backs
| RBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kareem Hunt | Brandon Oliver | Thomas Rawls |
| KC | LAC | SEA |
| $659K | $800K | $620K |
| Toledo | Buffalo | Central Michigan |
| Darius Jackson | FB Roosevelt Nix | |
| CLE | PIT | |
| $540K | $615K | |
| Eastern Michigan | Kent St |
The running back group is lead by a 3rd-round rookie out of Toledo, Kareem Hunt. On his first carry in the NFL, Hunt fumbled the ball against the Patriots. He would go on to lead the league in rushing with 1,327 yards, and didn’t lose a fumble again. Backing him up will be 2014 UDFA from Buffalo, Brandon Oliver. Taking the role of 3rd down back is former Chippewa, Thomas Rawls. Rounding out the running backs is former 2016 6th-round pick out of Eastern Michigan, Darius Jackson. Starting at fullback for this All MAC roster is former Kent St defensive lineman, Roosevelt Nix
5 roster spots filled, 45 left
$3.234M Spent | $144.494M Left
Wide Receivers
| WRs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Antonio Brown | Julian Edelman | Corey Davis |
| PIT | NE | TE |
| $13.618M | $7.617M | $4.617M |
| Central Michigan | Kent St | Western Michigan |
| Willie Snead | Roger Lewis | Tommylee Lewis |
| NO | NYG | NO |
| $506K | $546K | $542K |
| Ball St | Bowling Green | Northern Illinois |
| Kenny Golladay | ||
| DET | ||
| $645K | ||
| Northern Illinois |
We start the wide receivers out with arguably the best receiver in the league, and Roethlisberger’s teammate in Pittsbugh, former Chippewa, Antonio Brown. Starting next to him, and seeing most of his time out of the slot, is former Kent St quarterback, Julian Edelman. Rounding out the starting WRs is our highest drafted rookie of the roster, 1st-round pick out of Western Michigan, Corey Davis. Backing them up is our only Ball St alum of the roster, Willie Snead. Next are a pair of 2016 UDFA, Bowling Green’s Roger Lewis and Northern Illinois’ Tommylee Lewis. Rounding out the corps and serving as the teams return specialist is our next rookie of the roster, Kenny Golladay.
7 roster spots filled, 38 left
$27.891M Spent | $116.603M Left
Tight Ends
| TEs | |
|---|---|
| Antonio Gates | Michael Roberts |
| LAC | DET |
| $5.438M | $615K |
| Kent St | Toledo |
We didn’t have much to choose from in terms of tight ends, but we have an all-time great at the top. Former Kent St power forward Antonio Gates. Backing him up, and serving as the teams only other tight end, is our 4th-round pick out of Toledo, Michael Roberts.
4 roster spots filled, 36 left
$6.053M Spent | $110.55M Left
Offensive Line
| OL | ||
|---|---|---|
| T Joe Staley | T Eric Fisher | G TJ Lang |
| SF | KC | DET |
| $11.056M | $9.458M | $5.87M |
| Central Michigan | Central Michigan | Eastern Michigan |
| G Brandon Brooks | C Greg Mancz | T Taylor Moton |
| PHI | HOU | CAR |
| $7.2M | $617K | $756K |
| Miami (OH) | Toledo | Western Michigan |
| G Josh Kline | G Brian Winters | |
| TEN | NYJ | |
| $2.4M | $8M | |
| Kent St | Kent St |
The offensive line is a fairly stacked group. We start on the outside with a pair of Central Michigan alums, Joe Staley and former #1 overall pick, Eric Fisher. Backing them up will be 2nd-round rookie from Western Michigan, Taylor Moton. All 4 guards are current starters in the league, but for this roster we’ll start our last Eagle of the group, TJ Lang, and former RedHawk Brandon Brooks. Backing them up are a pair of former Golden Flashes, Josh Kline and Brian Winters. Either of which could end up taking over the center position. For now, the center position is manned by former Toledo Rocket, Greg Mancz.
8 roster spots filled, 28 left
$45.357M Spent | $65.193M Left
Offensive Spending Breakdown
The offense accounted for for 67.6% of the overall team budget. This makes sense as the majority of the “big name” players are on the offensive side of the ball for this roster. The offensive line took up the biggest chunk of the offensive budget, 44.6%, with multiple starting caliber players across the group.
The Defense
Defensive Line
| DL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Leterrius Walton | Treyvon Hester | Chris Jones |
| PIT | OAK | SF |
| $644K | $482K | $665K |
| Central Michigan | Toledo | Bowling Green |
| Steven Means | Richard Ash | |
| PHI | DAL | |
| $690K | $349K | |
| Buffalo | Western Michigan |
The defensive line was the next smallest group to chose quality players from. For this reason, I decided to go with a hybrid 2-4-5 scheme, with essentially 2 down lineman, 2 stand-up outside backers (who are essentials defensive ends), 2 inside backers, and 3 safeties. We start with 2015 6th-round pick out of Central Michigan, LT Walton. Starting next to him is our next rookie of the bunch, 7th-round pick out of Toledo, Treyvon Hester. Backing them up is Chris Jones from Bowling Green, Steven Means from Buffalo, and Richard Ash from Western Michigan.
5 roster spots filled, 23 left
$2.83M Spent | $62.363M Left
Linebackers
| LBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Khalil Mack | James Harrison | Jatavis Brown |
| OAK | NE | LAC |
| $5.943 | $1.95M | $586K |
| Buffalo | Kent St | Akron |
| Blair Brown | Frank Zombo | Tarell Basham |
| JAX | KC | IND |
| $539K | $1.357M | $674K |
| Ohio | Central Michigan | Ohio |
| Nick Bellore | Cap Capi | Freddie Bishop |
| DET | NYG | NYJ |
| $579K | $383K | $413K |
| Central Michigan | Akron | Western Michigan |
| Justin March-Lillard | ||
| DAL | ||
| $381K | ||
| Akron |
We start the linebackers with arguably our best defensive player of the roster, from Buffalo, Khalil Mack. Starting opposite him at this OLB/DE position will be the old man from Kent St, James Harrison. Starting on the inside will be a pair of young guys that played well this season; Akron’s Jatavis Brown and Ohio’s Blair Brown. Backing up the outside, essentially splitting time with Harrison, will be former Chippewa Frank Zombo and 3rd-round pick out of Ohio, Tarell Basham. Backing up the inside will be fellow Chippewa Nick Bellore. Rounding out the linebackers and providing help on special teams will be Freddie Bishop from Western Michigan, and from Akron, Cap Capi and Justin March-Lillard.
10 roster spots filled, 13 left
$12.805M Spent | $49.558M Left
Cornerbacks
| CBs | ||
|---|---|---|
| TJ Carrie | Rashaan Melvin | Quinten Rollins |
| OAK | IND | GB |
| $1.814M | $775K | $1.021M |
| Ohio | Northern Illinois | Miami (OH) |
| Jude Adjei-Barimah | Ronald Zamort | |
| TB | ARI | |
| $615K | $465K | |
| Bowling Green | Western Michigan |
We start the corners off with 2 highly graded corners from this 2017 season, Ohio’s TJ Carrie and Northern Illinois’ Rashaan Melvin. Coming in as the nickel corner will be former RedHawk, Quinten Rollins. Backing them up, but mainly playing roles on special teams, will be former Falcon Jude Adjei-Barimah and former Bronco Ronald Zamort.
5 roster spots filled, 8 left
$4.69M Spent | $44.868M Left
Safeties
| Ss | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mike Mitchell | Barry Church | Jahleel Addae |
| PIT | JAX | LAC |
| $8.135M | $8M | $4.25M |
| Ohio | Toledo | Central Michigan |
| Jimmie Ward | Kavon Frazier | |
| SF | DAL | |
| $2.263M | $565K | |
| Northern Illinois | Central Michigan |
The safeties definitely make up the most talented, and deepest, group of the defense. This is a big reason for the 3 safety base defense. We’ll start with our FS, Ohio’s Mike Mitchell. Next is our SS, who will spend a lot of time in the box, former Rocket Barry Church. And our last starter, playing the role of weak safety, former Chippewa Jahleel Addae. Backing up Mitchell and Addae will be former 2014 1st-round pick out of Northern Illinois, Jimmie Ward. Backing up Church at the SS will be our last Chippewa of the roster, Kavon Frazier.
5 roster spots filled, 3 left
$23.213M Spent | $21.655M Left
Defensive Spending Breakdown
The defense accounted for only 28% of the overall team budget. Young players, lack of depth, and lack of top, veteran talent made this a weaker group than the offense. The safeties accounted for 53.3% of the defensive budget. Outside the safeties, Khalil Mack is the only defensive player to make over $2M.
Specialists and Head Coach
| ST and HC | ||
|---|---|---|
| K Matt Prater | P Brett Kern | LS Charley Hughlett |
| DET | TEN | CLE |
| $5.225 | $3.3M | $1.465M |
| UCF* | Toledo | UCF* |
| Head Coach | Sean McVay | Miami (OH) |
Rounding out the roster are our specialist. We start with the kicker. There are no active kickers on a roster from the current MAC, but Lions’ Kicker Matt Prater attended UCF during its final seasons in the MAC. Moving to punter, we have our last Rocket of the roster, Titan’s Brett Kern. Finally we have the long snapper. Unfortunately this was the one position I could not fill with a member of the MAC. I decided to go with UCF’s Charley Hughlett. While UCF was not a member of the MAC during Hughlett’s time there, the school is at least a former member.
Taking charge of this team as head coach is Sean McVay. McVay played wide receiver for the Miami (OH) RedHakws from 2004 – 2007.
3 roster spots filled, 0 left
$9.99M Spent | $11.665M Left
The Starting 22
Because of the location of the MAC headquarters, I’ve named this team the Cleveland Cougars.
| Offense | |
|---|---|
| QB | Ben Roethlisberger |
| RB | Kareem Hunt |
| Z | Antonio Brown |
| X | Corey Davis |
| Slot | Julian Edelman |
| TE | Antonio Gates |
| LT | Joe Staley |
| LG | Brandon Brooks |
| C | Greg Mancz |
| RG | TJ Lang |
| RT | Eric Fisher |
| Defense | |
|---|---|
| DT | Treyvon Hester |
| DT | Leterrius Walton |
| Sam | Khalil Mack |
| Mike | Blair Brown |
| Will | Jatavis Brown |
| Jack | James Harrison |
| CB | TJ Carrie |
| CB | Rashaan Melvin |
| SS | Barry Church |
| FS | Mike Mitchell |
| WS | Jahleel Addae |
Team Breakdown
| School | # of Players |
|---|---|
| Akron | 3 |
| Ball St | 1 |
| Bowling Green | 3 |
| Buffalo | 3 |
| Central Michigan | 10 |
| Eastern Michigan | 2 |
| Kent St | 6 |
| Miami (OH) | 4 |
| Northern Illinois | 4 |
| Ohio | 4 |
| Toledo | 6 |
| Western Michigan | 5 |
| UCF* | 2 |
Central Michigan came out clearly on top with 10 alumnus on the roster. This is followed by Kent St and Toledo each with 6. All schools ended up represented, with Ball St being the lowest with 1, WR Willie Snead.
As for the NFL teams included in this roster, the Cowboys, Lions, and Steelers ended up being the most represented with 5 players a piece on the roster. The Redskins, Vikings, Bears, Rams, Falcons, Bills, Dolphins, Bengals, and Broncos all ended up with no love for the MAC with no players represented.