Ball State University Athletics
Football Players Earn Postseason Awards
December 01, 2010 | Football
Six Ball State football players -- Sean Baker, Robert Eddins, Ian McGarvey, Jason Pinkston, Michael Switzer and Eric Williams -- have earned Mid-American Conference postseason honors, which are selected by the league's 13 head coaches.
Junior safety Baker, senior defensive end Eddins and senior placekicker McGarvey were each named to the All-MAC Second Team, while sophomore defensive back Pinkston and senior offensive lineman Switzer were named to the third team. Williams, a sophomore, was named to the second team as a kickoff return specialist and the third team as a running back.
Baker, who is tied for first in the MAC and tied for sixth in the country with 0.5 interceptions per game, has set the Ball State career record with 16 interceptions as a junior. He started all 12 games for the Cardinals and set the school's interceptions record with two picks at Buffalo Nov. 12. Baker blocked the first field goal of his career vs. Liberty this season, plus added two interceptions vs. the Flames. He has posted four multiple interception games in his career. Baker finished the 2010 season second on the team in tackles with 88.
Eddins, who was named to the All-MAC Second Team for a second straight season, managed his 17th career sack vs. Akron, which ties him for sixth on Ball State's all-time career sacks list. He tallied a career high 4.5 sacks at Central Michigan and was the second most in a single game for a Ball State player. Eddins recovered the second fumble of his career in the season opener vs. Southeast Missouri State plus was credited with a forced fumble vs. SEMO. He managed 63 tackles on the season, which ranked fifth on the team, and tied for eighth in the MAC with six sacks on the season.
McGarvey, who set the Ball State career record with 287 points, tied his career high with three made field goals vs. Akron. It marked the seventh time in his career he made three field goals in one game, including also vs. Liberty in 2010. McGarvey connected on a career best 10th straight field goal vs. Liberty this season, and made his last nine field goals attempts to end his Ball State career. He ranks second in the MAC and tied for 35th in the nation with 1.27 field goals made per game and was fifth in the conference in scoring with 6.45 points per contest.
Pinkston played in all 12 games this season and managed his seventh career interception at Buffalo. He tallied his first career multiple interception game at Central Michigan when he picked off two passes. Pinkston managed a career high nine tackles at Kent State plus added the second forced fumble of his career vs. the Golden Flashes. He tied for ninth in the MAC and 37th in the nation with 0.33 interceptions per game.
Switzer started all 12 games this season and all 51 games in his four-year career. He helped protect Ball State's quarterbacks, which completed 53.7 percent of their passes this season. Switzer also spent his career blocking for MiQuale Lewis, who completed his career second on Ball State's career rushing chart with 3,748 yards.
Williams ranks second in the MAC and 43rd in the nation in kickoff returns and second in the league and 34th in the country in all-purpose yardage. He managed a 25.52 yards-per-return average on kickoff returns and 132.82 all-purpose yards per game. Williams returned a kick 92 yards for a touchdown vs. Eastern Michigan -- the first kickoff return for a TD in his career. He recorded the fifth rushing touchdown of the season and 10th of his career in the season finale vs. Northern Illinois.
