Marshall University Athletics
Cato Wins Hardman Award Again
1/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato was named the 2014 Hardman Award winner Sunday by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
The award, which Cato won for the second consecutive year, is given annually to the state’s top amateur athlete.
"To win the Hardman Award again is a tremendous honor and one that I’m blessed to accept," Cato said. "The state of West Virginia has so many great athletes and I’m proud to represent it."
Cato led the Thundering Herd to a 13-1 record, a Conference USA title and a 52-23 win over Group of Five power Northern Illinois in the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl last season. Marshall posted a season-ending 22nd-place finish in the Amway USA Today Coaches Poll, while being selected 23rd in the Associated Press Top 25. He finished as the school’s all-time leader in plays (2,145), total offense (14,918), touchdown responsibility (146), pass attempts (1,838), completions (1,153), passing yards (14,079), touchdown passes (131) and consecutive games with a TD pass (46, also an NCAA record). He also holds the single-season record for touchdown passes (40) and the single-game record for touchdown passes (7 vs. WKU in 2014).
The Miami native topped West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White, Mountaineer point guard Juwan Staten, West Liberty basketball’s Cedric Harris, Concord University football player Calvinaugh Jones and WVU women’s soccer standout Kedeisha Buchanan in the award’s voting.
Cato will be honored with the Hardman Award at the 69th Victory Awards Dinner in May.
