Nov. 23, 2007

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University junior linebacker Clayton Mullins has been named the 2007 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year by MAC Report Online. The MAC Report Online is an independent publication and is not affiliated with the MAC office.

Mullins, a product of Fairborn, Ohio, has led a RedHawk defense that ranks as the conference's best. Through 11 games in 2007, Mullins is tied for second in the MAC with 116 tackles and is sixth in the conference with 12.5 tackles-for-loss. He also has 4.0 sacks, forced a fumble and broken up six passes.

The RedHawk defense has allowed almost nine points per-conference game less than any other MAC unit, and also leads the conference, in MAC game statistics, in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, defensive pass efficiency, opponent first downs, and sacks.

Mullins has recorded double-digit tackles in six games this season and had nine tackles in four games. He had two games of 15 tackles, including the season-opening win a Ball State on Aug. 30 and on Oct. 27 at Vanderbilt. His 3.0 tackles-for-loss, including 2.0 sacks, were both season-highs coming on Oct. 20 at Temple.

On Nov. 14 against Akron, Mullins made the game-winning play in a 7-0 win over the Zips, forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter that was returned for the games only score.