CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb claimed eight spots on the 2021 Big South Football postseason awards lists Tuesday, with Devron Harper and Ty French bringing home major honors.

Harper was named Special Teams Player of the Year and earned All-Big South honors at three different positions. He was a first-team selection as punt return and kick return specialist and was a second-team honoree at receiver.

The Conyers, Ga., sophomore led the nation with two punt return touchdowns and was among the national leaders with 18.2 yards per punt return and 28.8 yards per kickoff return.  He had punt return touchdowns of 41 yards (vs. Elon) and a Big South- and GWU-record 93 yards against Monmouth.  Harper had two kickoff returns longer than 40 yards this season.  In all, he totaled 290 return yards (146 punt returns, 144 kickoff returns) on 13 returns (22.3 average).

French was named Defensive Freshman of the Year, was a first-team All-Big South choice on the defensive line and was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.

The Moultrie, Ga., freshman finished the spring season with a team-high 35 tackles (14 solo, 21 assisted) with 8.0 tackles-for-loss (-38), 4.0 sacks (-32 yards) with a pass break-up, 10 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick.  He was the FCS National Freshman of the Week after 4.0 TFL and 1.5 sacks in the season-opening win over nationally-ranked Elon.  French was a two-time Big South Freshman of the Week selection and honorable mention National Freshman of the Week.  He ranked among the national leaders, regardless of class, in sacks, TFL and tackles.

Gardner-Webb receiver Izaiah Gathings and running back Narii Gaither also earned first-team All-Big South honors.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Gathings finished among the Big South leaders with 26 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns this spring, including 10 catches for 126 yards vs. #24 Elon. That extended his Big South record with a fifth-straight game of 10+ catches and 100+ yards. Gathings had at least five catches in each of his four starts this spring and caught touchdowns vs. Presbyterian and #18 Monmouth.

Gaither was a first-year starter and used his sprinters speed to lead Gardner-Webb and rank among the Big South leaders with 349 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 61 carries in four starts. He set a Big South and GWU record with a 96-yard touchdown run vs. Presbyterian and had a pair of 100-yard games. Gaither also ranked among national leaders at 5.7 yards per carry.
 
Right tackle Clayton Frady and safety A.J. Thomas each earned second-team honors on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Frady became the first true freshman to start at tackle since Will Milliken in 2015. He played almost every snap over four starts this spring and allowed just one quarterback sack. Frady consistently graded out among the top blockers on the team over four games.

Thomas was also a first-year starter. He finished the 2021 spring season with 23 total tackles and two interceptions, and had his best game in the finale. Thomas had a 56-yard return at Charleston Southern to go with nine tackles and a PBU – and broke up five passes in four games.

Thomas had the game-saving interception in overtime vs. Presbyterian on March 6.

Wrapping up Gardner-Webb's honors Tuesday was long snapper Will Mullins, who earned a spot on the league's All-Academic Team.

Mullins started at long snapper for the fourth season in a row, helping Jack Pawloski rank among the Big South leaders once again this spring. He carries a 3.97 cumulative GPA in exercise science.