Three MAC defenders earned AP All-American status for the 2025 season.
The 2025 Associated Press All-American team was revealed Monday.
The AP is among the most prestigious All-American selectors. It is one of five selectors recognized by the NCAA to determine “consensus” and “unanimous” All-Americans. It is also the second oldest of the five major All-American selectors — first nominating a team in 1925.
Three players from the Mid-American Conference earned AP All-American honors for the 2025 season, marking the third time in the College Football Playoff era (2014-present) that the league warranted three selections. Buffalo inside linebacker Red Murdock qualified as a Second Team All-American, while Western Michigan defensive end Nadame Tucker and Toledo free safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren were Third Team All-American picks. All three selections were defensive players, with one from the defensive line, one from the linebacking corps, and one from the secondary.
Buffalo ILB Red Murdock etched himself into the record books this season as college football’s all-time forced fumble leader. With 17 career forced fumbles, he passed former Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack as the record holder for the category. Murdock ranks second in the FBS with six forced fumbles on the season, only trailing Texas Tech outside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. As of the time of the All-American selections, he also ranks second nationally in tackles at 142 — and he finished second in the FBS in tackles in 2024 as well. Murdock generated 13.5 tackles for loss and a career-best 5.0 sacks as an omnipresent force on the defense, and the senior also added two fumble recoveries to a loaded résumé. Murdock is the first Buffalo AP All-American since his former linebacker teammate Shaun Dolac earned First Team honors in 2024.
Western Michigan DE Nadame Tucker transferred from Houston to Western Michigan over the offseason, immediately evolving from a seldom used defensive end to a nationally recognized force. Tucker won the Vern Smith Leadership Award (in other words, the MAC MVP) as well as MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, leading Western Michigan to its first MAC championship since 2016. Tucker is the current FBS leader in sacks at 14.5 and in tackles for loss at 21.0, regularly dominating offensive lines all season. He forced four fumbles and produced 55 tackles in a breakout season. Tucker saved his best for the biggest stage, racking up 2.5 sacks in Western Michigan’s MAC title game win over Miami (OH) one week ago. Tucker is the first Western Michigan AP All-American since wide receiver Corey Davis earned First Team honors in 2016.
Toledo FS Emmanuel McNeil-Warren was one of many standouts on a Rocket defense which ranks third in fewest yards allowed per game and fourth in fewest points surrendered on a national basis. McNeil-Warren earned First Team All-MAC honors in a career season which featured 73 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown. With McNeil-Warren leading the charge, Toledo’s pass defense ranked atop the FBS in opponent completion percentage, only allowing 48.9 percent of attempts through. McNeil-Warren’s unit let up just 158.4 yards per game to garner yet another top 10 FBS ranking. McNeil-Warren is the first Toledo AP All-American since his former defensive back teammate Quinyon Mitchell (a two-time selection) earned Second Team honors in 2023.
Category: General Sports
