OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — UTSA's Marcus Davenport has been selected as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, the organization announced Thursday.
Davenport is one of 30 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) senior student-athletes named to the list for the annual honor. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
A preseason All-Conference USA selection at defensive end, Davenport has registered 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, six quarterback pressures and three pass breakups through the first three games of his final campaign. The 2016 second-team all-league selection has helped lead a UTSA defense that enters the Southern Miss game leading C-USA in nine different categories, including four FBS-leading marks. The San Antonio Stevens High School product owns the program's career records for sacks (15.5) and quarterback pressures (19) and is tied atop the all-time list for tackles for loss (23.5).
Davenport, who also is on the Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list, is a Rowdy Readers mentor at a local elementary school and also gave students from that school a tour of the UTSA campus and helped them participate in a parade at Fiesta. He had his head shaved to help raise money for pediatric cancer patients as part of St. Balderick's Day and he also volunteered with a dance marathon put on by For The Kids (FTK), a student-run non-profit organization that raises money and provides emotional support for families affected by pediatric cancer. A member of UTSA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Davenport also served as a Dream Runners volunteer and participated in the Annual Black Student-Athlete Summit at the University of Texas in January 2017.
To determine the final Senior CLASS Award winner, the 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. Along with the winner, the 10 finalists will be awarded Senior CLASS Award first- or second-team honors.
Football Candidates
| Matt Anderson, California | Allen Lazard, Iowa State |
| J.T. Barrett, Ohio State | Joe Ostman, Central Michigan |
| Drew Brown, Nebraska | Billy Price, Ohio State |
| Daniel Carlson, Auburn | Scott Quessenberry, UCLA |
| Austin Corbett, Nevada | Frank Ragnow, Arkansas |
| Marcus Davenport, UTSA | Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama |
| Joseph Davidson, Bowling Green State | Canon Rooker, Middle Tennessee |
| Emmanuel Ellerbee, Rice | JK Scott, Alabama |
| Rashard Fant, Indiana | Blaise Taylor, Arkansas State |
| Zaire Franklin, Syracuse | Cody Thompson, Toledo |
| Shaquem Griffin, UCF | Johnny Townsend, Florida |
| Mason Hampton, Boise State | Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame |
| Josey Jewell, Iowa | Mike White, Western Kentucky |
| Micah Kiser, Virginia | Logan Woodside, Toledo |
| Justin Lawler, SMU | Kenny Young, UCLA |
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the football bowl season in early January. For more information on the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
ABOUT THE AWARD
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring. Premier Sports Management manages the award.
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