CEDAR FALLS -- Mark Farley calls James Ruffin a great defender.

After all, Ruffin sets the bar high, said Northern Iowa's head coach.

"He should be the one guy you don't want to face and the one guy you want to start building your team if you started from scratch," said Northern Iowa's head football coach.

Farley thinks Ruffin is that kind of player. And the people who vote on the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference all-league teams have agreed with him.

Ruffin, a junior end, Monday earned Valley Football's defensive player of the year honors for the 2008 season.

The Burnsville, Minn., product was one of five Panthers to earn first-team spots. Defensively, Ruffin joined safety Darrell Lloyd, linebacker Josh Mahoney and tackle Everette Pedescleaux on the first team. On the offensive side, center Austin Steichen also made the top squad.

Ruffin became the sixth Panther to win the league's top defensive award. He joins the man who is now his head coach. Farley claimed it in 1985 as a linebacker. Then came William Freeney (1991-92), Andre Allen (1993-94), Adam Vogt (2001) and Brannon Carter (2007).

This regular season, Ruffin led the UNI defense in tackles for loss (15), sacks (eight) and forced fumbles (three). Overall, the junior posted 57 total stops and played a key role in a unit that led the MVFC in rush defense and passing efficiency defense.

"James has the pass rushing ability," said Farley. "He has the strength and size, and he's just so multi-talented. Yet he gives to the team in leadership and things you need, as well."

Lloyd, a senior, tied for third among UNI defenders with 83 total tackles and topped the Panthers in blocked kicks at three.

Mahoney, stepping into a starting role for the first time in 2008, was the Panthers' No. 1 tackler with 116 stops.

Pedescleaux didn't join UNI's first-team defense until midseason, but he earned his all-Valley football spot with 11-1/2 tackles for loss and 6-1/2 sacks.

Steichen was a vital part of a rebuilt offensive line that limited opposing defenses to 12 quarterback sacks.

The Panthers also claimed seven second-team spots. On offense, quarterback Pat Grace, running back Corey Lewis, fullback/tight end Ryan Mahaffey and tackle Austin Howard made the unit. Defensively, linebacker De'Veon Harris, cornerback Terrell McMoore and end Jeremy Robertson were selected.

Western Illinois running back Herb Donaldson earned MVFC offensive player of the year honors. Dale Lennon, who took over Southern Illinois' program this fall, is the league's coach of the year.

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com

First team

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK ï½ Ryan Berry (South Dakota), 6-3, 190, sr.

RUNNING BACKS ï½ Herb Donaldson (Western Illinois), 5-11, 225, sr.; Larry Warner (Southern Illinois), 5-5, 169, sr.

FULLBACK ï½ Dre Gibbs (Western Illinois), 5-10, 225, jr.

WIDE RECEIVERS ï½ JaRon Harris (South Dakota State), 6-1, 200, sr.; Eyad Salem (Illinois State), 6-2, 180, jr.

TIGHT END ï½ Clay Harbor (Missouri State), 6-4, 230, jr.

LINEMEN ï½ Zach Harrington (North Dakota State), 6-2, 295, sr.; Reshad Jones (Western Illinois), 6-4, 230, sr.; Aaron Lockwood (Southern Illinois) 6-3, 305, sr.; Brad Samsa (Youngstown State), 6-3, 280, sr.; Austin Steichen (Northern Iowa), 6-3, 300, jr.

PLACEKICKER ï½ Taylor Rowan (Western Illinois), 6-0, 190, sr.

RETURN SPECIALIST ï½ Larry Warner (Southern Illinois), 5-5, 169, sr.DEFENSELINEMEN ï½ Danny Batten (South Dakota State), 6-4, 250, jr.; Josh Galloway (Western Illinois), 6-3, 250, jr.; Everette Pedescleaux (Northern Iowa), 6-6, 305, sr.; James Ruffin (Northern Iowa), 6-4, 265, jr.

LINEBACKERS ï½ Ramon Humber (North Dakota State), 5-11, 222, sr.; Brandin Jordan (Southern Illinois), 5-11, 230, jr.; Josh Mahoney (Northern Iowa), 6-1, 234, jr.; Jason Williams (Western Illinois), 6-3, 225, sr.

DEFENSIVE BACKS ï½ Korey Lindsay (Southern Illinois), 6-0, 187, so.; Darrell Lloyd (Northern Iowa), 6-0, 191, sr.; Nick Schommer (North Dakota State), 6-0, 197, sr.; Patrick Stoudamire (Western Illinois), 5-11, 200, jr.

PUNTER ï½ Scott Ravanesi (Southern Illinois), 6-0, 196, jr.

Second team

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK ï½ Pat Grace (Northern Iowa), 6-2, 230, jr.; Cody Kirby (Missouri State), 5-11, 200, so.

RUNNING BACKS ï½ Corey Lewis (Northern Iowa), 6-0, 197, sr.; Kyle Minett (South Dakota State), 5-10, 200, so.

FULLBACK ï½ Ryan Mahaffey (Northern Iowa), 6-4, 255, so.

WIDE RECEIVERS ï½ Glen Fox (South Dakota State), 6-2, 205, jr.; Kole Heckendorf (North Dakota State), 6-2, 188, sr.

TIGHT END ï½ Jeremiah Wurzbacher (North Dakota State), 6-5, 250, sr.

LINEMEN ï½ David Arkin (Missouri State), 6-5, 281, so.; Mike Farrell (Southern Illinois), 6-3, 295, sr.; Austin Howard (Northern Iowa), 6-7, 301, jr.; Kevin Robling (South Dakota State), 6-3, 275, sr.; Jonathan St. Pierre (Illinois State), 6-3, 305, sr.

PLACEKICKER ï½ Peter Reifenrath (South Dakota State), 5-11, 185, so.

RETURN SPECIALIST ï½ Tom Nelson (Illinois State), 6-0, 200, sr.DEFENSELINEMEN ï½ Crispin Fernandez (Youngstown State), 5-10, 270, jr.; Joe Lardinois (North Dakota State), 6-4, 260, sr.; Jeremy Robertson (Northern Iowa), 6-4, 255, sr.; Eric Schroeder (South Dakota State), 6-3, 285, sr.

LINEBACKERS ï½ James Cloud (Southern Illinois), 6-2, 216, sr.; De'Veon Harris (Northern Iowa), 6-1, 215, sr.; Chauncey Mixon (Southern Illinois), 6-1, 221, jr.; Jimmy Rogers (South Dakota State), 5-10, 215, jr.

DEFENSIVE BACKS ï½ Mike McEachern (Western Illinois), 6-1, 205, sr.; Terrell McMoore (Northern Iowa), 6-1, 185, sr.; Marty Rodgers (Southern Illinois), 5-10, 184, jr.; Roger Wright (Missouri State), 5-11, 193, sr.

PUNTER ï½ Bobby Kelsey (Illinois State), 6-1, 220, sr.Honorable mentionNORTHERN IOWA ï½ Jarred Herring, RS; Bob Swift, OL, Jamar Thompson, LB

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR ï½ Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR ï½ James Ruffin, Northern Iowa

COACH OF THE YEAR ï½ Dale Lennon, Southern Illinois