ST. LOUIS, Mo.--North Dakota State University cornerback Marcus Williams was selected the 2012 Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, while head coach Craig Bohl received MVFC Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year honors for the second straight year.
The MVFC on Wednesday announced its special awards voted on by the conference head coaches, sports information directors and selected media members. The all-conference, all-newcomer and all-academic teams will be announced next week.
Illinois State quarterback Matt Brown was named the MVFC's Offensive Player of the Year, while Northern Iowa quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen earned both the conference's Newcomer and Freshman of the Year awards.
Williams, a 5-foot-11, 197-pound junior from Minneapolis, Minn. (Hopkins H.S.) leads the team with four interceptions including one returned for 98 yards for a touchdown against Youngstown State on Oct. 6. He has returned four interceptions for TDs in his career and added another off a lateral from a teammate's pick. Williams ranks fifth in the conference and is tied for 15th nationally in interceptions.
A candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year) presented by The Sports Network, Williams has 15 career interceptions and is one away from tying the school record of 16 set by Steve Krumei from 1967-69. He added 22 tackles this season including 14 solos and one tackle for loss.
A two-time MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Williams has returned 11 kickoffs this season for an average of 30.1 yards per return including one taken back 98-yards for a TD at Illinois State on Nov. 17. It was his second career kickoff return for a touchdown.
Williams is a valuable member of the FCS and the conference's top-ranked scoring, rush, pass and total defense.
Bohl led North Dakota State to its second straight conference championship with a 7-1 record and enters the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS playoffs as the No. 1 seed. The Bison compiled a 10-1 regular season record for the fourth time during Bohl's coaching career.
In his 10th season at NDSU, Bohl has put together an 85-32 record overall including a 6-3 record against FBS competition and 19-8 record against nationally-ranked teams. The Bison have won 11 straight road games and 11 in a row against nationally-ranked team.
Bohl, who serves on the American Football Coaches of America (AFCA) Board of Trustees, is also a candidate for The Sports Network's Eddie Robinson (FCS Coach of the Year) Award. He was a finalist for the award in 2006, 2007 and 2011.
