Junior linebacker was second in the nation with 12.3 tackles per game.
HOUSTON – HBU junior linebacker Garrett Dolan was voted to the Associated Press (AP) 2016 FCS All-America Team Thursday, becoming the first Husky to earn All-America status.
“In the third year of our program, to have an AP All-America player is really significant and it is a real credit to Garrett,” HBU head coach Vic Shealy said. “Guys like him are easy to coach, because you can’t challenge them enough – you put them in difficult situations and they don’t see any task as impossible. Garrett continues to buy into the fact that hard work pays off and never takes a short cut, with a lot of that starting in the weight room.”
Dolan, a third-team selection, led the Southland Conference and ranked second nationally with 12.3 tackles per game. The Mont Belvieu, Texas, native totaled 135 tackles, while adding two sacks, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. He started off the season by tying his career high with 18 tackles against Central Arkansas. In the Huskies’ first-ever conference road win at Lamar, Dolan recorded 14 tackles and also forced and recovered a fumble, which set up HBU’s opening touchdown to earn Southland Defensive Player of the Week Honors. He was a finalist for the FCS STATS Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, which honors the top defensive player in the FCS, and has been an all-conference pick all three years, including first-team honors this season.
“Our team has amazing respect for Garrett, because they know he is going to work and is committed to making himself better everyday,” Shealy said. “To achieve what he has, you have to play well, it’s not just about stats. This season, he moved better in space and did not miss very many tackles. (Co-Defensive Coordinator) Charlie Camp has done a great job with him, with Charlie’s experience playing the position really helping Garrett improve.”
In their third official season, the Huskies set several program records, including all-conference selections (8), wins (4), conference wins (3) and scored the first conference road victory with a 24-17 win at Lamar on Oct. 29.
Dolan was one of four All-America selections from the Southland, joined by Sam Houston State quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe and defensive end P.J. Hall, who were first-team picks, and Southeastern Louisiana offensive lineman Taylor Gadbois, who was also on the third team.
Faith That Inspires Action 