Fairfield: Grant Earns Third-Team All-America Honors
CHICAGO – Malik Grant grabbed the nation’s attention with 228 rushing yards in Sacred Heart University’s win over Merrimack. He continued to be one of the best running backs in the country and on Tuesday was honored with a spot on the Hero Sports FCS Third-Team All-America squad.
“This is a great honor for Malik that is well deserved after the season he had,” SHU head coach Mark Nofri said. “Malik really stepped up for our team and became the leader we knew he could be. We’re so proud of him and what’s he was able to accomplish. As good as he is as a football player, he’s an even better person.”
It’s Grant’s first All-America honor and the third-straight season that a Sacred Heart running back has been recognized. Julius Chestnut was an All-American during the spring season as well as the 2019 campaign.
“I feel very honored to be selected, but I couldn’t have done this without my teammates, especially the offensive line,” Grant said. “I’ve been very blessed to have this opportunity. At the start of the year I would have never thought it would have been possible.”
Named the New England Football Writer’s Most Outstanding Player, Grant was also named the Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year. A finalist for the Walter Payton Award, he is fourth in the FCS at 1,347 rushing yards – fifth on the SHU single-season list – and sixth with 112.2 yards per game.
A First-Team All-NEC selection, Grant crossed the goal line 11 times, which was tops in the NEC and 32nd nationally. The Bronx, NY native was named NEC Offensive Player of the Week five times. His 228 yards against Merrimack was the sixth-highest single-game total in school history and the 10th-best in the FCS this year.
Sacred Heart won its second-straight NEC Championship but was defeated by Holy Cross in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.
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