Courtesy of WKU Athletics
DALLAS, Texas — WKU Football quarterback Bailey Zappe was voted 2021 Conference USA
Most Valuable Player, as selected by the league’s 14 head coaches, it was announced
Wednesday. It marks the third time in eight seasons in C-USA that a Hilltopper has
won the award, following quarterback Brandon Doughty’s back-to-back MVP’s in 2014
and 2015.
In addition, WKU garnered two other superlative awards, as wide receiver Jerreth
Sterns was named 2021 C-USA Newcomer of the Year and defensive end DeAngelo Malone
earned 2021 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year recognition. All three players also
claimed spots on the All-CUSA First Team that was announced Tuesday.
For the year, Zappe is 442-of 639 passing (69.2%) for 5,545 yards, with 56
touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The all-time single-season FBS yardage record is
5,833 by Texas Tech’s B.J. Symons during his 14-game 2003 season, while the
single-season FBS touchdown record is 60 by LSU’s Joe Burrow during his 15-game 2019
campaign. A performance by Zappe of 289 passing yards and five touchdowns in the
Hilltoppers’ bowl game would eclipse both marks.
Zappe’s 69.2% completion rate on 442-of-639 attempts, 5,545 yards, 56 touchdowns and
167.55 passing efficiency rating leads all league quarterbacks; with the next
closest being Marshall’s Grant Wells’ 67.0% completion rate on 280-of-418 attempts
(+2.2% with 221 more attempts) and 3,456 yards (+2,089), Charlotte’s Chris Reynolds’
26 touchdowns (+30), UTSA’s Frank Harris’ 153.62 passing efficiency rating (+13.93).
During the regular season, Zappe led C-USA with four Offensive Player of the Week
awards.
With a C-USA Championship Game-record and career-high 577 yards at UTSA, Zappe
became only the sixth quarterback in FBS history to achieve a 5,000-yard,
50-touchdown campaign. In addition, a 45-yard completion in the first quarter to
wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley pushed Zappe over Brandon Doughty’s WKU single-season
program record of 5,055, which was set during the 14-game 2015 season. Meanwhile,
the 577 yards marked the first FBS passing performance of 560 or more yards since
UCF’s Dillon Gabriel had 601 at Memphis on October 17, 2020.
From 2020-to-2021, the Hilltoppers went from scoring 19.0 points per game to 43.1
(+24.1 increase leads the nation), scoring 2.0 offensive touchdowns per game to 5.2
(+3.2) and 164.3 passing yards per game to 434.6 (+270.3). The 434.6 passing yards
per game would be the second-best number in FBS over the past five seasons (2019
Washington State averaged 437.2). In 13 games this season, Zappe has 83 passing
“chunk” plays of 20 or more yards this season with 23 of those going for touchdowns.
Comparatively, in 12 games in 2020, WKU had 15 “chunk” passing plays with three of
those going for touchdowns.
Defensive end DeAngelo Malone was previously voted the league’s Defensive Player of
the Year in 2019, and becomes only the fourth player in C-USA’s 27-year history –
and first since UCF defensive end Bruce Miller in 2009 and 2010 – to earn the honor
twice. On Tuesday, he became the first WKU player in the program’s FBS Era to earn
conference First Team honors – and the first since offensive lineman Buster Ashley,
who was All-Gateway Football Conference First Team in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
This season, Malone is tied for the C-USA lead with 16.5 tackles for loss and ranks
second with eight sacks. He ranks 12th in C-USA with 88 total tackles, although that
number leads the nation among defensive linemen. The Atlanta, Ga., native is tied
for the league lead with four forced fumbles, which is also ninth among all FBS
defenders.
The senior from Atlanta, Ga., is the all-time WKU program record-holder with 33
career sacks, which also leads all active FBS defenders (Western Michigan’s Ali
Fayad ranks second with 32). His 59 career tackles for loss also lead the nation
(Texas Tech’s Colin Schooler ranks second with 56.5) and rank second in Hilltopper
history behind only Sherrod Coates’ 75. Malone’s 343 career total tackles rank
second, behind only Devon Key’s 350, in the program’s FBS Era (since 2009). His 52
career starts are tied for second in WKU history among non-specialists with
offensive lineman Daniel Withrow, who was on The Hill from 2000-03, and trail only
offensive lineman Brandon Ray’s 54 from 2014-17.
Sterns becomes the third WKU player to win Newcomer of the Year, following
quarterbacks Ty Storey in 2019 and Mike White in 2016. Since the award was
established in 2007, this marks only the fourth time in 15 seasons that a wide
receiver has taken home the honor.
In 12 games this season, wide receiver Jerreth Sterns has 137 receptions for 1,718
yards and 14 touchdowns. His averages of 10.54 receptions and 132.2 yards per game
lead all FBS receivers by 2.09 and 9.32, respectively, while his 14 scores are tied
for third in the nation. His 137 receptions, 1,718 yards and 14 touchdowns led all
league receivers; with the next-closest numbers being fellow teammate Tinsley’s 80
receptions (+57) and 12 touchdowns (+2), as well as UTEP’s Jacob Cowing’s 1,343
yards (+375).
Sterns’ 137 receptions are the seventh-most in a single season in FBS history and
the most-ever by a C-USA player. The top three marks are 158 (East Carolina’s Zay
Jones in 2016), 155 (Bowling Green’s Freddie Barnes in 2009) and 142 (Houston’s
Manny Hazard in 1989). Meanwhile, his 1,718 yards are the 26th-most in FBS history;
only four FBS receivers have ever reached the 1,900-yard plateau.
Former WKU wide receiver Taywan Taylor previously set the program records with 98
receptions for 1,730 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2016. Sterns made his 99th catch in
the Hilltoppers’ ninth game this season in a 48-21 win over Middle Tennessee to pass
Taylor’s mark. For his collegiate career, Sterns has 357 receptions for 3,689 yards
and 32 touchdowns in 40 games played at WKU (13) and Houston Baptist (27). He has 17
100-yard receiving games and 18 double-digit catch performances, including nine and
eight, respectively, this season.
Other C-USA superlative winners were: Coach of the Year – UTSA’s Jeff Traylor,
Special Teams Player of the Year – FIU punter Tommy Heatherly, Freshman of the Year
– Charlotte wide receiver Elijah Spencer and Offensive Player of the Year – UTSA
running back Sincere McCormick. Due to C-USA award regulations, the Most Valuable
Player is not permitted to also win Offensive or Defensive Player of the Year.
The Hilltoppers conclude their season on Saturday, December 18 in the 2021
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl on Saturday, December 18, where
WKU (8-5) will face App State (10-3) of the Sun Belt Conference. Kickoff at FAU
Stadium is set for 10 a.m. CT and will be aired nationally on ESPN.
