Jason Corriher
Marshall Sports Information

HUNTINGTON W.Va. – Marshall safety Malik Gant and linebacker/defensive end Juwon Young were each named to national watch lists on Monday.
Gant, a native of Washington, D.C. was selected to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, an honor that is given annually to college football’s best defensive back. Young, who hails from Albany, Ga., was honored on the Butkus Award Watch List, which recognizes the nation’s top linebacker.
Gant was named a preseason All-Conference USA pick by the league’s coaches and Athlon.
He earned a scholarship following last season’s spring practice and responded by racking up 100 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, with five pass breakups and three quarterback hurries last fall.
At season’s end, he was named to the conference’s second team.
The Thorpe Award is based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. As such, it is considered one of the most coveted awards in college football.
The award recipient is selected by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts members of the NCFAA, an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, and sportswriters and college football journalists throughout the country.
The winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Presented by Gildan on Thursday, Dec. 6, on ESPN. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award commemorative banquet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in Oklahoma City.
Young played in nine games last season, starting eight, and amassed 41 tackles, including 3.0 for loss with a sack.
Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while helping spread the word about Butkus’ I Play Clean® initiative which encourages teens to eat well, train hard, and play with attitude without resorting to performance-enhancing drugs.
Semi-finalists will be named Oct. 29, finalists Nov. 19, and winners will be notified on or before Dec. 4.