C.J. Carroll Selected MIAA's Defensive MVP

The Albion College football program is proud to boast the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Defensive Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row. C.J. Carroll, a senior defensive tackle from Warren, headlines the list of seven Britons named to the all-MIAA team released Monday night by league publicist Greg Chandler.

Carroll, who prepped at Fitzgerald High School, moved up to the defensive line in 2011 after coming into the Briton program as a linebacker. He wrapped up 14 tackles for loss, including five sacks. He led the league with 10 tackles for loss in the six weeks of league play and the Britons were the second-best team in the MIAA against the rush and in points allowed.

"C.J. has played extremely well the last two years," Head Coach Craig Rundle said. "For a guy who came in as a linebacker, he has been a dominant player."

Albion players joining Carroll on the all-MIAA first team included linebacker Brett McCarty (Alto/Caledonia), receiver Brian Spencer (East Lansing), cornerback Mike Vandermus (Harbor Springs), running back Darrin Williams (Detroit/Martin Luther King), and offensive center Eric Woods (Kalamazoo/Comstock).

McCarty finished second in the league in tackles and sacks in the six weeks of MIAA play. Spencer, who hauled in a school-record 16 passes in the season-finale against Hope, tied for second in the league in receptions and third in receiving yards per game. Vandermus recorded two of his four interceptions against league rivals and his biggest play of the year was stripping the ball from an Adrian receiver and returning the fumble to the 4-yard line to set up a touchdown. Williams averaged 146 rushing yards in the five league games he played in with Woods paving the way.

Punter Sage Alward (Hudsonville) was an all-MIAA second team pick. He averaged nearly 36 yards per kick and 15 forced opponents to take possession inside the 20-yard line.

"We were pleased with the result of the voting," Rundle said. "It's nice to have players recognized, particularly when we had a challenging year with injuries."