MUNCIE — Four Ball State football players came away with all-league honors for the 2016 season, the Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday morning. Running back James Gilbert headlined the group with first team accolades while wide receiver KeVonn Mabon (second team), linebacker Sean Wiggins (third) and defensive end Anthony Winbush (third) were also honored.

Gilbert was a consistent force on the offensive side of the ball all year for the Cardinals and led the league with 12 rushing touchdowns. The native of Indianapolis, Indiana, piled up 1,332 rushing yards this fall, the fourth most in a single season by a Ball State player. Gilbert reached the 100-yard mark seven times, including a stretch of five consecutive games in the middle of the year. The sophomore notched 264 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win over Buffalo on Oct. 15. His 264 yards are the second highest total in the Ball State single game record book.

Mabon earned all-league accolades for the third consecutive year. He established a new school record for career receptions (244) in the season finale against Miami. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Mabon tallied career highs in both receptions (12) and touchdowns (3) against Eastern Michigan on Nov. 8. The senior led Ball State in receptions in 10 of the 12 games and ranked second in the MAC in receptions per game (7.1). Mabon leaves Ball State with 2,862 career receiving yards, which ranks third in the program annals.

Wiggins was a steady contributor on the defensive side of the ball throughout the season. He led Ball State in tackles in six games and also reached double-figure stops in four contests. The senior notched a team season-high as well as a personal-best 15 tackles at Central Michigan on Oct. 8. A few weeks later at Toledo, Wiggins recorded 14 tackles and a career-high two tackles for loss. The native of Mint Hill, North Carolina, ranked fifth in the conference in tackles per game (9.1). This was the second straight year Wiggins was an All-MAC selection.

Winbush led the team and ranked third in the MAC in sacks (8.5). He put an exclamation point on his season with a career-high 2.5 sacks in the season finale at Miami. The native of Indianapolis, Indiana, recorded multiple sacks in three other games – at Indiana, versus Eastern Kentucky and at Central Michigan. In the win over Florida Atlantic on Sept. 24, the junior racked up a personal-high five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Ball State concluded the 2016 season with a 4-8 overall record and 1-7 mark in the MAC. Four of Ball State’s seven league losses were by seven points or less.

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