Football RB Ward, CB Bunting named Athlon Sports Preseason First-Team All-MAC players
In the Athlon Sports' 2018 Preseason All-Mid-American Conference awards, two Central Michigan football players made the top list.
Junior running back Jonathan Ward and junior cornerback Sean Bunting earned All-MAC First Team honors.
On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore wide receiver Brandon Childress and senior offensive lineman Shakir Carr made the All-MAC Third Team.
Aside from Bunting, four Chippewas were handed preseason defensive honors. Junior defensive lineman Mike Danna, senior defensive lineman Nathan Brisson-Fast and senior linebacker Malik Fountain made All-MAC Second Team. Senior linebacker Alex Briones received Third Team honors.
In the 2017 season for CMU, Ward ran the ball 167 times for 988 yards and nine touchdowns. Catching passes through the air from quarterback Shane Morris, the 6-foot, 185-pound running back added seven receptions for 109 yards and one score.
After a "tough" recruitment, which led him to Mount Pleasant, Bunting shined to lead a top-notch secondary last season.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back logged 49 tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss, five interceptions, five passes defended, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. Bunting's five interceptions placed him second in the MAC behind teammate Josh Cox with six.
Ward and Bunting lead the Chippewas on the road to play Kentucky on Sept. 1, in the season opener. CMU plays its home opener the following weekend against Kansas at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
