Recruiting Focus: MAC

Originally Published: January 11, 2006
By Craig Haubert | Scouts Inc.
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has built a reputation over the last decade for fielding competitive and fun to watch teams. Many of the schools in the conference have high-powered offenses and have repeatedly shown that they are no picnic for opponents from the bigger conferences.

In 2004 it sent a total of five teams to bowl games and this season sent two. The MAC conference also is known for producing good NFL talent, especially at the quarterback position. Former MAC quarterbacks who are now signal callers in the NFL include Byron Leftwich (Marshall), Chad Pennington (Marshall), Ben Roethlisberger (Miami-Ohio), and Charlie Frye (Akron). The MAC looks to continue that tradition with Bowling Green's highly touted quarterback Omar Jacobs, who will be entering the 2006 NFL Draft.

While the MAC underwent some changes prior to the 2005 season after losing Marshall and UCF to Conference USA, it is still a conference that fields quality teams and talent. With the exception of the University of Buffalo, all of the conference's other members are located in the heart of the Midwest, and this is where many of the schools land their top recruits. While they will all look to the junior colleges for help from time to time and dip into the South and Florida for prospects, much of the talent comes from the states that have MAC representatives since most of the schools are located in football rich states like Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.


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Craig Haubert | email

RecruitingNation
  • National recruiting analyst and analyst for ESPNU
  • More than a decade of college and pro coaching experience.
  • Has been a position coach, strength coach, recruiting coodinator and director of football operations.

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