DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — Miami linebacker Clayton Mullins has been named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Mullins, a junior from Fairborn, is tied for the conference lead in tackles (129) and leads the RedHawks in tackles for loss (13.5). He also was named first-team All-MAC.

"Clayton has had a tremendous season," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said. "He has been a very consistent player for us, especially in MAC games. Coming into the season, we expected a lot of him, and he really stepped forward to become one of the leaders on our defensive unit."

Other RedHawks to earn All-MAC recognition are junior linebacker Joey Hudson (second team), junior defensive lineman Joe Coniglio (third team), junior punter Jake Richardson of Talawanda (third team) and junior guard Dave DiFranco (third team).

RedHawks are healthy

The RedHawks should be in relatively good health when they take on Central Michigan in Saturday's MAC championship game.

Junior tight end Jake O'Connell (foot injury), true freshman wide receiver Chris Givens (foot) and senior tailback Austin Sykes (ankle) should be ready to play at Ford Field, Montgomery said.

O'Connell was injured in the second quarter of Miami's 38-29 loss at Ohio last Saturday, Givens was hurt in the third quarter of that game, and Sykes never got into the game after aggravating an ankle injury the previous week.

Confidence in QB

Although sophomore Daniel Raudabaugh has thrown five interceptions and only one touchdown pass in the last two games, Montgomery doesn't appear to have lost faith in his young quarterback.

"He played pretty well in the first half (at Ohio)," Montgomery said. "They blitzed the safeties a lot. He missed one or two opportunities, but in the first half I thought he played well.

"He did make two crucial mistakes early in the second half," he said of the interceptions which were turned into touchdowns by the Bobcats.

MAC title game

Who: Miami RedHawks (6-6, 4-2 MAC East) vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (7-5, 4-1 MAC West)

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Where: Ford Field, Detroit

TV: ESPN2

Radio: WONE-AM (980)

Series: Miami leads 11-9-1 (Central Michigan won the last meeting 38-37 in Oxford, Sept. 10, 2005)