Bazuin Collects Preseason All-MAC Honors

MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University junior defensive end Daniel Bazuin of McBain (Mich.) High School has been named to the preseason All-Mid-American Conference first team by five college football preview publications.

A starter in all 23 games over his first two seasons, Daniel Bazuin made 50 tackles, including eight for a loss of 46 yards, in 2004. He also blocked a conference-high four kicks, including a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter of the Chippewas' 24-21 win over Kent State.

An All-MAC first team and Academic All-MAC selection a year ago, Bazuin has received preseason all-conference honors this summer from Athlon Sports, Lindy's, Street & Smith's, The Sporting News and Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook. He has also been named to the CollegeFootballNews.com preseason second team.

Bazuin enters 2005 on the watch lists for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and the Lombardi Award; the Nagurski and Lombardi awards are presented annually to the top defensive player and top lineman in college football.

A pair of Chippewa offensive linemen also collected preseason All-MAC laurels. Junior Joe Staley (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) and senior Jeff Jenerou (Manistique, Mich./Manistique HS) were named to the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook first team and CollegeFootballNews.com second team, respectively.

Staley, a converted tight end, started all 11 games at right tackle in 2004, while Jenerou has started 21 games over the past three seasons.

Central Michigan, under second-year head coach Brian Kelly , opens the 2005 campaign at home against Indiana on Friday, Sept. 2. ESPNU will carry the contest, set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, live from Kelly/Shorts Stadium.