Marshall University Athletics
Gant headlines Marshall football award winners
12/8/2018 8:06:00 PM | Football
Individual honors were handed out at Herd's annual banquet
Dec. 8, 2018
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall junior safety Malik Gant was named the football team's Most Valuable Player for the 2018 season, it was announced Saturday night at the program's annual Big Green Scholarship Foundation banquet.
Gant, a native of Washington, D.C., recorded 90 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, two interceptions and one sack in 12 games this season for Marshall, which is 8-4 and headed to play South Florida on Dec. 20 in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl. Gant was named to the Conference USA all-conference first team on defense, and Pro Football Focus placed Gant on its All-American second team. Gant is tied for fifth nationally in tackles for a loss by a defensive back, and is only player in the country with at least 90 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, two interception and five pass deflections.
Senior receiver Tyre Brady took home the team's Offensive MVP honor. Brady has been one of Conference USA's top receivers this season, ranking sixth in the league in receptions (66), fifth in receiving yards (914) and is tied for second in receiving touchdowns (nine). He enters bowl season with a streak of 23 consecutive games with a reception, and needs 86 receiving yards to be the first Marshall player since 2014 (Tommy Shuler) to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Brady, the New Mexico Bowl Offensive MVP last season, shared the team's Offensive MVP last season with quarterback Chase Litton, who is now with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Senior defensive lineman Ryan Bee was named the team's Defensive MVP. He recorded 33 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, and 4.5 sacks this season. He has 18.5 sacks for his career, which ranks No. 10 in program history. Bee's forced fumble late in the fourth quarter at Western Kentucky preserved the conference road win for the Herd. Bee, along with senior offensive lineman Jordan Dowrey and senior linebacker Chase Hancock, was named one of the team's three captains.
Long snapper Matthew Beardall was named the Special Teams MVP. The junior was selected to the Conference USA all-conference first team at his position following a season in which he had 60 snaps on punts and 61 snaps on extra points and field goals without a miscue. He also recorded four tackles.
Other 2018 Marshall football player awards:
Senior Scholar Award (highest GPA/toughest major) – Jordan Dowrey, senior offensive lineman
Jim Conard Award (top offensive lineman) – Levi Brown, sophomore center
Offensive and Defensive Gridiron Gladiators (relentless, gives everything all of the time) – senior offensive lineman Jordan Dowrey (offense); senior defensive lineman Malik Thompson (defense)
Chad Pennington Award (offensive player on/off field who gives his all) – Marcel Williams, senior receiver
Tom Stark Award (defensive player on/off field who gives his all) – Chase Hancock, senior linebacker
Scout Team Players of the Year (players that gave the opposite side of the ball the best look in practice) – Luke Zban, freshman (offense); Owen Porter, freshman (defense)
