Marshall University Athletics
Brenden Knox
Photo by: Adam Gue
Thundering Herd Places Five on C-USA Preseason Football Teams
8/25/2020 2:43:00 PM | Football
Knox named Most Valuable Player
DALLAS, Tx. – Marshall University had five student-athletes recognized on Conference USA's preseason football team, including its Most Valuable Player, when the honors were released on Tuesday.
Brenden Knox, who won the league's 2019 postseason MVP award, garnered this season's preseason honor as well. He was joined by offensive lineman Cain Madden, linebacker Tavante Beckett, defensive back Nazeeh Johnson and punt returner Talik Keaton.
Knox was previously named to the watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Wuerffel Trophy and the Doak Walker Award this summer.
The Columbus, Ohio native has picked up a slew of preseason awards on the heels of a 2019 campaign that saw him earn Conference USA Most Valuable Player, Marshall team MVP and offensive MVP honors.
Last year, he amassed a league-high 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns on 270 carries (also tops in C-USA). He also caught 14 passes for 129 yards. His rushing yardage total also ranked third nationally among sophomores. Based on 2019 statistics, Knox will enter the 2020 season as the sixth-leading rusher in college football behind the likes of Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard and Clemson's Travis Etienne. At 1,965 career rushing yards through two seasons, he ranks as the third-best two-season start to a career through a sophomore season for Marshall running backs behind Chris Parker and Doug Chapman.
Madden was also named to the Outland Trophy watch list, which is an award given to the nation's top interior lineman. He was a breakout player on the offensive side of the ball for Marshall in 2019, as he was part of a unit that helped power a running game that finished second in the league in rushing yards and rushing yards per game. At season's end, he earned second-team all-league honors, but, like Beckett, has been a first-team selection on Athlon and Phil Steele's all-conference lists.
Beckett was also selected to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, an honor that is given annually to nation's defensive player of the year. The Chesapeake, Virginia native amassed a league-high 121 tackles in 2019 en route to Conference USA first-team honors. He shared team defensive most valuable player honors with fellow linebacker Omari Cobb, as well.
Johnson was also an honorable mention all-league honoree, racking up 88 tackles and seven passes defended in 2019. This summer, Athlon also added him to its preseason all-conference team.
Keaton was Conference USA's top punt returner in 2019 and was the only freshman in the league to be named to C-USA's first team. A year ago, he returned 16 kicks for 202 yards and one touchdown. He was second nationally in punt return yards among freshmen. This summer, Phil Steele also added him to his preseason all-league squad.
Marshall will open its season at home against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, September 5.
Brenden Knox, who won the league's 2019 postseason MVP award, garnered this season's preseason honor as well. He was joined by offensive lineman Cain Madden, linebacker Tavante Beckett, defensive back Nazeeh Johnson and punt returner Talik Keaton.
Knox was previously named to the watch lists for the Maxwell Award, Wuerffel Trophy and the Doak Walker Award this summer.
The Columbus, Ohio native has picked up a slew of preseason awards on the heels of a 2019 campaign that saw him earn Conference USA Most Valuable Player, Marshall team MVP and offensive MVP honors.
Last year, he amassed a league-high 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns on 270 carries (also tops in C-USA). He also caught 14 passes for 129 yards. His rushing yardage total also ranked third nationally among sophomores. Based on 2019 statistics, Knox will enter the 2020 season as the sixth-leading rusher in college football behind the likes of Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard and Clemson's Travis Etienne. At 1,965 career rushing yards through two seasons, he ranks as the third-best two-season start to a career through a sophomore season for Marshall running backs behind Chris Parker and Doug Chapman.
Madden was also named to the Outland Trophy watch list, which is an award given to the nation's top interior lineman. He was a breakout player on the offensive side of the ball for Marshall in 2019, as he was part of a unit that helped power a running game that finished second in the league in rushing yards and rushing yards per game. At season's end, he earned second-team all-league honors, but, like Beckett, has been a first-team selection on Athlon and Phil Steele's all-conference lists.
Beckett was also selected to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, an honor that is given annually to nation's defensive player of the year. The Chesapeake, Virginia native amassed a league-high 121 tackles in 2019 en route to Conference USA first-team honors. He shared team defensive most valuable player honors with fellow linebacker Omari Cobb, as well.
Johnson was also an honorable mention all-league honoree, racking up 88 tackles and seven passes defended in 2019. This summer, Athlon also added him to its preseason all-conference team.
Keaton was Conference USA's top punt returner in 2019 and was the only freshman in the league to be named to C-USA's first team. A year ago, he returned 16 kicks for 202 yards and one touchdown. He was second nationally in punt return yards among freshmen. This summer, Phil Steele also added him to his preseason all-league squad.
Marshall will open its season at home against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, September 5.
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