Marshall football announces season award winners
Published 7:06 pm Thursday, December 7, 2023
By GRANT TRAYLOR
Associate Athletic Director of Strategic Communications
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football’s 2023 award winners were honored recently at the team’s 2023 Football Banquet, which took place on Sunday night.
The event was sponsored by Marshall’s Quarterback Club and took place in the Don Morris Room at the Memorial Student Center.
Owen Porter took home the night’s top honor as Team MVP while Rasheen Ali and Eli Neal were named as the Offensive and Defensive MVPs. Jayden Harrison was the Special Teams MVP.
Porter has tallied 57 tackles and a team-best 15 tackles for loss with five sacks, 13 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles while serving as the emotional and vocal leader of the team.
Ali has rushed for 1,043 yards and 14 touchdowns while also hauling in 28 passes for 213 yards and another score. He became just the fifth Marshall player in history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons.
Neal leads Marshall with 85 tackles while adding 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. He joins Porter as sixth-year players who serve as the pulse of the team.
Harrison leads FBS in average yards per kick return at 31.9 yards per return. He also had a pair of kickoff returns for touchdown – a 94-yard return against James Madison and a 98-yard return against Georgia Southern. Recently, Harrison was named a 2023 Jet Award finalist and a CBS Sports / 247Sports First Team All-America selection.
The highlight of the night was the presentation of the prestigious Phil Ratliff Distinguished Alumnus Award, which went to Red Dawson.
Dawson, who served as a Marshall assistant coach from 1968-71, was a key figure in the program’s immediate rebuild after the 1970 Marshall plane crash and has continued to be an important figure in Marshall’s football program in the five-plus decades since.
Prior to the 2023 season, Marshall head coach Charles Huff named him as an honorary coach for this year’s team in a ceremony at Spring Hill Cemetery.
Here is the full list of 2023 Marshall Football Award winners:
Team MVP Award
Owen Porter, Defensive End
Defensive MVP Award
Eli Neal, linebacker
Offensive MVP Award
Rasheen Ali, running back
Special Teams MVP Award
Jayden Harrison, kick returner
Phil Ratliff Distinguished Alumnus
Red Dawson, Honorary Coach
President’s Award – player(s) from each unit showing perseverance to make outstanding contributions to team success
Joe Murray, defensive end
T.J. McMahon, quarterback
Isaiah Gibson, Sr., defensive tackle
Chad Pennington Offensive Achievement Award – player who has played a critical role in effectiveness of unit on and off the field
Caleb McMillan, wide receiver
Tom Stark Defensive Achievement Award – player who has played a critical role in effectiveness of unit on and off the field
KeSean Brown, linebacker
Up Front Award – given to the most valuable Defensive Lineman
Kylen McCracken, defensive tackle
Jim Conard Award – given to the most valuable Offensive Lineman
Ethan Driskell, offensive tackle
Outstanding Defensive Performer Award – given to player with most tackles/points
Sam Burton, defensive end
Eternal Captain Award – given to permanent team captain, as voted by Marshall staff
Talik Keaton, wide receiver
Scout Team Award, Special Teams
Jason Haggerty, cornerback
Scout Team Award, Offense
Jack Schierholz, quarterback
Most Inspiring Player Award (2)
Jahsen Wint, defensive back
Chris Bradberry, offensive lineman
Iron Man Award – given to players showing most year-round dedication to strength and conditioning program
Logan Osburn, offensive lineman
Elijah Alston, defensive lineman
Commitment to Academic Excellence Award
Logan Osburn, offensive lineman
Outstanding Senior Scholar – senior with highest GPA
Chris Mottillo, tight end
Unsung Hero Award – given to players who made significant contributions to team success while receiving least recognition
Darryle Simmons, wide receiver
Luke Soto, tight end
Ishmael Roy, wide receiver
DeMarcus Harris, wide receiver
Mason Pierce, wide receiver
Myles Bell, cornerback