Tanner Kelly named MAC Offensive Player of the Year
Six Lions earn All-Conference Honors
Reading, PA – Sophomore quarterback Tanner Kelly (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year Wednesday afternoon. Kelly is joined on the All-Conference First-Team by senior wide receiver Stephen Asay (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) and junior defensive back Matt Christ (Birdsboro, PA/Reading Central Catholic). Four players earned Second-Team All-Conference honors, led by sophomore Nate Romig (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone), who was selected as both a receiver and a kick returner. Junior offensive guard Theron Deets (Birdsboro, PA/Daniel Boone) and freshman place kicker John Whelan (Bridgeton, NJ/Cumberland Regional) were also named to the Second-Team, as was Kelly, who was tabbed the Second-Team punter.
Kelly, who was the MAC Rookie of the Year in 2006, led the conference in every major passing category this fall, and is the first Lion to be named Offensive Most Valuable Player since Brian Snyder was tabbed in 1996 and 1997. He finished the season with 2629 passing yards, an average of 262.9 per game, and 25 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. Kelly had a passing efficiency rating of 163.4, the seventh highest total in the country in Division III. He also led the MAC in total offense with 2742 yards. Kelly completed 68.2% of his pass attempts this fall (206-302) and rushed for two touchdowns as well. Nationally, in addition to his rank of seventh in pass efficiency, he ranks 18th in passing yards, 20th in total offense, and 21st in passing yards pre game. He was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week for the week of September 8, when he threw for 447 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-17 win over Kean. As a punter, Kelly averaged 39.3 yards per punt, and twice earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week Honors.
Asay emerged as the top receiver in the MAC this fall. His combination of size and speed proved to be nearly unstoppable for Lion opponents this season. Asay led the conference in receptions with 67, receptions per game with 7.44, and receiving yards per game with 100.8. He caught six touchdown passes, tied for the second-best total in the conference. He ranked 15th in the country in receptions per game and 20th in the country in receiving yards per game. Asay was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week for the games of October 20, when he caught 11 balls for 179 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-25 win at Wilkes.
Christ led an Albright defense that was a big part of Albright's turnaround in 2007. The junior free safety seemed to be around the ball all season, coming up with big stops and turnovers throughout the year. He led Albright and ranked third in the conference with six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown October 20 at Wilkes. Christ also recovered three fumbles and forced another, giving him a total of nine takeaways on the season. He finished the 2007 regular season with 60 tackles, including 40 solo stops. Christ earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on two occasions this fall. He was first selected for his play September 8 against Kean, when he picked off three passes in a 42-17 win over the Cougars. His second award came for his efforts against Wilkes, when he totaled two interceptions, forced a fumble, broke up a pass, and led Albright with 12 tackles in the 35-25 win.
Romig was a dual threat weapon for Albright on offense, proving equally lethal whether lining up in the backfield or split out wide as a receiver. He led the MAC in all-purpose yards with 1657, rushing for 467 and catching 50 passes for 689 yards. Romig also led the MAC in scoring, finding the end zone 14 times in 2007. He rushed for three scores, caught 10 touchdown passes, and returned a kickoff for a touchdown as well. Romig was fourth in the conference in receiving yards per game and fifth in receptions per game, led the conference in touchdown catches, and also ranked fourth in rushing yards per game. He is 15th in the country in all-purpose yards this fall. As a kick returner, Romig averaged 21.8 yards per return with one touchdown.
Deets anchored an offensive line for Albright that paved the way for the top-ranked offense in the MAC. Albright led the conference in both scoring offense and total offense in 2007. Deets started every game in 2007, giving him a streak of 20 consecutive starts at left guard.
Whelan made quite an impression as a freshman, leading the MAC in scoring among kickers with 55 points this fall. He converted 31 of 34 extra point attempts this season, as well as eight of 15 field goal attempts. Twice he made two of two field goals in a game, first against Lycoming October 6, then again against Lebanon Valley October 27. Whelan's eight field goals are the fifth-highest single-season total in school history
