Hope running back Shawn Jackson has been chosen the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Football's Most Valuable Offensive Player by the league's coaches.
Hope running back Shawn Jackson has been chosen the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Football's Most Valuable Offensive Player by the league's coaches.
It marks the 25th time a member of the Flying Dutchmen had been awarded MVP honors.
Jackson, a senior from Comstock Park (Comstock Park HS), co-headlines an All-MIAA team with Adrian linebacker Deontae Bridgewater that includes Hope 12 honorees in all.
Jackson is one of two first-team running backs. He rushed for 710 yards in league play and topped the MIAA in scoring with nine touchdowns and 58 points.
"I was pleased and pleasantly surprised with how well we did in the all league voting," Hope coach Dean Kreps said. "I was especially pleased with Shawn Jackson being named first team, all-league running back and offensive MVP of the league. I was impressed to see the other league coaches affirm his impact on league play, since he did lead the MIAA in rushing and scoring."
Other first-team selections from Hope are senior Vincent Boddy of West Bloomfield (West Bloomfield HS) at wide receiver, senior Connor Parcell of Cadillac (Cadillac HS) at tight end and junior Joe Droppers of Kalamazoo (Portage Northern HS) at offensive line.
Boddy also received All-MIAA honors as a return specialist. The All-MIAA First Team recognition is the second for Droppers.
On defense, three Hope players made the first team — senior Greg Bird of Byron Center (Byron Center HS) at defensive line, junior Cody Lindemulder of Lake Odessa (Lakewood HS) at linebacker and senior Santino DiCesare of Dorr (Wayland HS) at defensive back. DiCesare is a two-time All-MIAA honoree.
On special teams, sophomore Dean DeVries of Grand Rapids (Grandville HS) repeated as a first-team punter.
The Flying Dutchmen had three second-team honorees — senior Michael Atwell of Geneseo, Ill. (Geneseo HS) at quarterback, junior Cal Livingway of Dearborn (Dearborn HS) at offensive line and senior Tim Klaus of Saugatuck (Saugatuck HS) at linebacker.
Hope posted a 7-3 overall record this season, including a second-place mark of 4-2 in MIAA play.