CLEVELAND -- Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs was voted the Mid-American Conference's offensive player of the year, Marshall's Jonathan Goddard the top defender and Akron's J.D. Brookhart the coach of the year in balloting by media and league coaches.

Other awards announced Tuesday included Akron quarterback Charlie Frye taking the MAC leadership award, Ryne Robinson of Miami (Ohio) as the top special-teams player and Ball State running back Adell Givens as the freshman of the year.

Jacobs, a sophomore from Delray Beach, Fla., led the nation in touchdown passes with 36 in his first year as a starter. He had only three interceptions. Jacobs led the MAC in passing efficiency at 167.8, completing 283 of 418 attempts for 3,637 yards.

Goddard led the nation in sacks (16) and tackles for a loss (28). He had four sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a nationally televised win, 33-25, over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 29. The senior from Jacksonville, Fla., set a MAC season records for sacks.

In his first head coaching stint, Brookhart guided the Zips to a 6-5 record overall, 6-2 in the MAC, setting a school record for the most conference wins in 13 years of league play. Brookhart rallied his team from an 0-3 start.

A senior from Willard, Ohio, Frye etched his name into MAC lore on Nov. 5 when he directed the Zips comeback win over Marshall after trailing 28-7 late in the third quarter.

Robinson, a sophomore from Toledo, Ohio, had two runbacks for touchdowns while averaging 13.6 yards per return.

Givens, from Hamilton, Ohio, rushed for 963 yards and six touchdowns on 202 attempts.

Originally published Monday, December 6, 2004