Geter, Mau Named To College Football Performance Awards FCS Defensive Awards Watch List
November 04, 2015 | Football
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb's Chad Geter and OJ Mau were among the names selected to the 2015 College Football Performance Awards FCS Defensive Awards Watch List Wednesday morning.
Since 2008, College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) has provided the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Award winners will be announced on January 13, 2016.
Gardner-Webb's duo anchors a defensive unit that has been difficult to deal for much of 2015. The Runnin' Bulldogs rank No. 17 nationally in total defense (307.0 ypg), No. 20 in scoring defense (19.4 ppg), No. 5 in pass defense (148.5 ypg), No. 5 in red zone defense (60.9%), No. 5 in third down defense (28.0%) and No. 1 in red zone touchdowns defense (21.7%) – allowing just five red zone touchdowns in 23 trips.
Geter (Irmo, S.C. / Dutch Fork HS) is in the midst of a stellar season after returning at full steam from an injury that limited his 2014 campaign to just three games. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound outside linebacker leads Gardner-Webb and ranks third in the Big South with 75 total tackles (46 solo) and has posted a career-high 11.0 tackles for loss (minus-50 yards). Geter also has 3.0 sacks (minus-20 yards), three quarterback pressures, a forced fumble and one pass break up to his credit.
Geter is the lone Big South defender who has earned the league's Defensive Player of the Week honor twice in 2015, doing so in wins over No. 15 Liberty (10/10) and at Presbyterian (10/31).
The redshirt junior has 22.5 tackles for loss in his last 21 starts.
Mau (Masefau, American Samoa / Fagaitua HS) has lived up to his preseason accolades in 2015, ranking second among Big South Conference defensive linemen with 42 total tackles (21 solo) and 9.0 tackles for loss (minus-26 yards).
The preseason All-America nose guard and member of the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List has also posted 2.0 sacks (minus-14 yards), five quarterback pressures and a pass break up. He blocked his second career field goal in the win over No. 15 Liberty (10/10).
Mau is on pace to equal his All-America numbers from the 2014 season and has been a stalwart in the middle during his career in Boiling Springs. The 6-foot-2, 319-pound standout has managed 176 career tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss (minus-93 yards) and 10.5 sacks (minus-62 yards) in 42 games played.
Both Geter and Mau were also named to preseason CFPA Watch Lists for their respective positions prior to the 2014 season.
Gardner-Webb's defense faces a difficult task on Saturday, as the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to face No. 8 Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm and will be televised on the American Sports Network (ASN).
