CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb had six men earn a spot on the 2021 Big South All-Conference Football Team announced Tuesday afternoon.

Running back Narii Gaither (Rock Hill, S.C. / Rock Hill HS) was the top vote getter at his position and was joined on the first team by defensive end Ty French (Moultrie, Ga. / Colquitt County HS), linebacker William McRainey (Shallotte, N.C. / West Brunswick HS) and safety Malachi Buckner (Tucker, Ga. / Tucker HS).

Offensive lineman Gabe Thompson (Spartanburg, S.C. / Dorman HS) and nickel back T.J. Comstock (Louisville, Ky. / Manual HS) were second-team selections. 

Gaither, who also finished third in voting for Big South Offensive Player of the Year, led the league and ranked in the top-25 nationally in rushing yardage. The 5-foot-10, 177-pound speedster carried 178 times for 990 yards and seven touchdowns – also leading the circuit with 5.6 yards per carry.

The junior led Gardner-Webb with 42 catches for 351 yards and five more touchdowns, proving himself as one of the top all-purpose backs in the country. He ranked No. 9 nationally during the regular season and led the Big South with 132.7 all-purpose yards per game and averaged 140.9 all-purpose yards per game against league competition.

French continued his rise as one of the Big South's best defenders, ripping, bulling and swimming his way to 61 total tackles (34 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks). All of those numbers marked new career-highs for French, who now has 22.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in just 14 career games. He added 14 quarterback pressures – which led the conference – in 2021. He has 24 pressures for his career.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was elite over his final five games this season, recording 10.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks during that stretch. 

McRainey led the Big South with 109 total tackles this season (55 solo), adding 13.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He broke up three passes and was involved in three turnovers, returning one fumble 71 yards for a touchdown.

The 6-0, 217-pound sophomore ranked 15th nationally in tackles this regular season and was ranked 20th in solo stops among FCS players. The two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Week averaged 10.1 tackles per game in seven league starts.

McRainey was also named to the Big South Conference All-Academic Team, following up a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District III squad. He carries a 3.55 cumulative GPA in accounting.

Buckner enjoyed a career year at safety, leading the Big South with five interceptions and leading Gardner-Webb with 10 passes defended overall (five PBU). The 6-foot-1, 206-pound junior ranked No. 4 nationally in interceptions per game.

He added 49 total tackles (30 solo) and a tackle for loss from the secondary. 

Thompson proved to be a versatile tool up front for Gardner-Webb this season, starting at both guard and center. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound sophomore logged 729 snaps and graded out at 81 percent over 11 games played.

Thompson ranked second on the team with 24 knockdown blocks and allowed just one sack this season. When the starting center went down for the year with an injury in early October, Thompson slid over seamlessly to center and helped clear a path for the Big South's top rusher – Gaither – and an offense that posted its best scoring average since 2005.

His blocking helped the Runnin' Bulldogs score 44 touchdowns in 2021.

Comstock made the most of his one season in Boiling Springs, providing leadership and totaling 56 tackles from his nickel safety position. A graduate transfer from Eastern Kentucky, Comstock also had 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and three pass break ups. He also blocked a field goal, picked off one pass and had a fumble recovery.

The Louisville, Ky., native had 10 tackles in a big win over Western Carolina and had eight hits against Campbell and Robert Morris. He had 37 of his tackles against Big South Conference competition.

The Runnin' Bulldogs featured one of the youngest rosters in the conference in 2021, but were competitive. Five of the team's losses came in the final minutes of action, including a final-play stunner at No. 10 and eventual conference champion Kennesaw State.