RUSSELLVILLE, ARK. – The East Central University football team claimed six 2018 All-Great American Conference honors from five student-athletes. Six honors are the most for the Tigers since the 2015 season when they garnered 10.
2018 Football All-GAC
2018 ECU All-GAC Honors
Benson is the lone member of the group to earn a previous All-GAC honor, being named to the All-GAC Second Team in 2017. The Lewisville, Texas, native led the Tigers offense, scoring a total of 54 points on nine touchdowns. He eared five of his TDs on the rush, attempting 54 runs for 226 yards in 2018. He also added four receiving TDs on 45 catches for 507 yards.
Benson also led ECU on special teams, with 89 yards on punt returns and 166 on kickoff returns. Special team's yardage helped him rack up a total of 1,087 all-purpose yards for the year, ranking No. 4 in the GAC. He also ranked No. 5 in scoring (TDs), No. 8 in receptions per game (11.3) and No. 9 in overall scoring (54).
Preston was one of three kickers on the team in 2018, earning the role of punter. The Amarillo, Texas, native ranked first in the GAC and No. 18 in the nation with an average of 42.0 yards per punt. He attempted a total of 77 punts, with 19 landing inside the 20-yard line, 13 50-yards-or-more, 17 fair caught and six touchbacks. He totaled 3,231 yards punting, with his longest punt going 81 yards.
Harvey was the second-leading rusher for the Tigers in 2018. The Catossa, Okla., native played in all 11 games, catching 19 passes for 227 yards. He also scored one touchdown, coming on senior day, Nov. 10 against archrival Southeastern.
Galante saw action in 10 games this season, playing in the first game and missing the second. However, when he returned he returned as a starter for the last nine games of 2018.
Young was a staple on the defensive line for the Tigers. The Hallsville, Texas, native garnered 43 (15-28) total tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss (20 yards), 3.0 sacks (11 yards), five quarterback hurries, on interception, one breakup, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble.
