The No. 23-ranked University of Toledo football team dominated the All-Mid-American Conference awards.

Junior quarterback Dequan Finn received the league’s Vern Smith Leadership Award, presented annually to the MAC’s most valuable player; junior running back Peny Boone was named offensive player of the year; and head coach Jason Candle was named the MAC’s coach of the year for the second time.

Finn and Boone are part of the 14 Rockets named to the All-MAC teams, including 10 first-team selections.

Ten Bowling Green Falcons were named All-MAC, with two earning first-team honors.

This is the first time since 2017 that UT swept the Vern Smith Leadership Award, offensive player of the year, and coach of the year. Ten first-team All-MAC players are the second most in program history, one behind the 1970 team, and the most by any school since Marshall had 13 in 1999.

Finn is Toledo’s first Vern Smith Leadership Award winner since Logan Woodside in 2017 and just the fifth in school history. The two-time All-MAC honoree leads the conference in passing efficiency (155.36), completion percentage (65.1 percent), passing yards (2,384 yards), touchdown passes (21), and total offense (242.8 yards per game). His 530 rushing yards are the most among MAC QBs and he is one of just six FBS quarterbacks to have at least 2,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards.

Finn is the all-time leading rusher among UT quarterbacks (1,807 yards) and his 24 career rushing TDs are tied with Jim Kelso (1980-83) for most ever by a Toledo QB.

Boone is UT’s first offensive player of the year since Woodside in 2017 and just the third ever. He ranks second nationally in yards per carry (7.4 yards), fifth in total rushing yards (1,359 yards), seventh in rushing yards per game (113.2 yards), eighth in rushing touchdowns (15), and 11th in total touchdowns (16).

Boone has eight 100-plus-yard performances, including a career-high 211 yards against Western Michigan. He was named MAC West offensive player of the year three times this season, averaging 129.8 yards in eight conference games.

Candle joins Frank Lauterbur, Chuck Stobart, and Gary Pinkel as the only UT coaches to win MAC coach of the year multiple times. His 65 wins are eight shy of Pinkel’s 73, the most in program history.

Joining Finn and Boone on the All-MAC first team are wide receiver Jerjuan Newton, offensive linemen Nick Rosi and Vinny Sciury, defensive lineman Judge Culpepper, linebacker Dallas Gant, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, safety Maxen Hook, and kick returner Jacquez Stuart.

BGSU tight end Harold Fannin, Jr., and defensive back Jalen Huskey were also first-team All-MAC recipients.

2023 MAC Football Postseason Awards

Coach of the Year: Jason Candle, Toledo

Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Dequan Finn, QB, Toledo

Offensive Player of the Year: Peny Boone, RB, Toledo

Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Salopek, LB, Miami

Special Teams Player of the Year: Graham Nicholson, PK, Miami

Freshman of the Year: Jalen Buckley, RB, Western Michigan

2023 All-MAC First Team Offense

Quarterback – Dequan Finn, Toledo

Offensive Lineman – Corey Stewart, Ball State

Offensive Lineman – Nolan Potter, NIU

Offensive Lineman – Nick Rosi, Toledo

Offensive Lineman – Vinny Sciury, Toledo

Offensive Lineman – Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan

Tight End – Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green

Wide Receiver – Chrishon McCray, Kent State

Wide Receiver – Sam Wiglusz, Ohio

Wide Receiver – Jerjuan Newton, Toledo

Wide Receiver – Kenneth Womack, Western Michigan

Running Back – Antario Brown, NIU

Running Back – Peny Boone, Toledo

Placekicker – Graham Nicholson, Miami

2023 All-MAC First Team Defense

Down Lineman – CJ Nunnally, Akron

Down Lineman – Sidney Houston, Ball State

Down Lineman – Caiden Woullard, Miami

Down Lineman – Judge Culpepper, Toledo

Linebacker – Matt Salopek, Miami

Linebacker – Bryce Houston, Ohio

Linebacker – Keye Thompson, Ohio

Linebacker – Dallas Gant, Toledo

Defensive Back – Jalen Huskey, Bowling Green

Defensive Back – Devin Grant, Buffalo

Defensive Back – Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo

Defensive Back – Maxen Hook, Toledo

Punter – Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan

2023 All-MAC First Team Specialists

Kickoff Return Specialist – Marion Lukes, Central Michigan

Kickoff Return Specialist – Jacquez Stuart, Toledo

2023 All-MAC Second Team Offense

Quarterback – Kurtis Rourke, Ohio

Offensive Lineman – Deiyantei Powell-Woods, Central Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Brayden Swartout, Central Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Brian Dooley, Eastern Michigan

Offensive Lineman – Will Jados, Miami

Offensive Lineman – Reid Holskey, Miami

Tight End – Anthony Torres, Toledo

Wide Receiver – Daniel George, Akron

Wide Receiver – Jasaiah Gathings, Akron

Wide Receiver – Tanner Knue, Eastern Michigan

Wide Receiver – Jesse Prewitt III, Central Michigan

Running Back – Marquez Cooper, Ball State

Running Back – Terion Stewart, Bowling Green

Placekicker – Andrew Glass, Kent State

2023 All-MAC Second Team Defense

Down Lineman – Jacques Bristol, Central Michigan

Down Lineman – Brian Ugwu, Miami

Down Lineman – James Ester, NIU

Down Lineman – Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

Linebacker – Cole Pearce, Ball State

Linebacker – Darren Anders, Bowling Green

Linebacker – Joe Sparacio, Eastern Michigan

Linebacker – Ty Wise, Miami

Defensive Back – Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green

Defensive Back – Donte Kent, Central Michigan

Defensive Back – Yahsyn McKnee, Miami

Defensive Back – JaVaughn Byrd, NIU

Punter – Alex Bevelhimer, Miami

2023 All-MAC Second Team Specialists

Kickoff Return Specialist – Jaylon Jackson, Eastern Michigan

Kickoff Return Specialist – Cade McDonald, Miami

2023 All-MAC Third Team Offense

Quarterback – Brett Gabbert, Miami

Offensive Lineman – Damon Kaylor, Ball State

Offensive Lineman – Alex Wollschlaeger, Bowling Green

Offensive Lineman – Gabe Wallace, Buffalo

Offensive Lineman – Tyler Doty, Buffalo

Offensive Lineman – Addison West, Western Michigan

Tight End – Tanner Koziol, Ball State

Wide Receiver – Odieu Hiliare, Bowling Green

Wide Receiver – Luke Floriea, Kent State

Wide Receiver – Trayvon Rudolph, NIU

Wide Receiver – Anthony Sambucci, Western Michigan

Running Back – Rashad Amos, Miami

Running Back – Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan

Placekicker – Luke Pawlak, Toledo

2023 All-MAC Third Team Defense

Down Lineman – CJ West, Kent State

Down Lineman – Vonnie Watkins, Ohio

Down Lineman – Rayyan Buell, Ohio

Down Lineman – Darius Alexander, Toledo

Linebacker – Bryan McCoy, Akron

Linebacker – Cashius Howell, Bowling Green

Linebacker – Kyle Moretti, Central Michigan

Linebacker – Chase Kline, Eastern Michigan

Defensive Back – KJ Martin, Akron

Defensive Back – Davon Ferguson, Bowling Green

Defensive Back – Chris McDonald Jr., Toledo

Defensive Back – Keni-H Lovely, Western Michigan

Punter – Lucas Borrow, Ball State

2023 All-MAC Third Team Specialists

Kickoff Return Specialist – Jhaylin Embry, Bowling Green

Kickoff Return Specialist – Ron Cook, Buffalo

First Published November 29, 2023, 4:00 p.m.