LEXINGTON, Ky. — Seven football players from the Mid-South Conference were honored with the inaugural Blanton Collier Leading with Character award, the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame announced last month.
Campbellsville's
Khalil Baker earned the honor for the Fighting Tigers.
"The Mid-South Conference member institutions take seriously their responsibility to build character through participation in sports," said Mid-South Conference Commissioner, Eric Ward. "It is an honor to partner with the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Blanton Collier Leadership Group to present this award to football players who have demonstrated positive character values in leading their teams.
"This is something our coaches and administrators emphasize with their student-athletes on a daily basis. This award is a positive message to those student-athletes who routinely demonstrate the behaviors we value and are competing with character."
Baker, a junior from Hopkinsville, Ky., finished with 74 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 2016. His 9.3 tackles per game ranked No. 29 in the NAIA. He is an active member in Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), a Dean's List representative and Academic All-MSC honoree.
In addition to Baker, Matt Brooks (Cumberlands) Kody Kasey Kentucky (Georgetown) Christian's Jug Smith (Kentucky Christian), Hasani Warren (Pikeville), Dylan Beasley (Lindsey Wilson) and Ryan Coleman (Union), were honored inside the MSC.
The Blanton Collier Leading with Character award is a preseason recognition award for MSC football student-athletes attending a Kentucky college or university. This is the first year for this annual award. The Blanton Collier Leading with Character award represents the best college football players that the state of Kentucky has to offer. These players' dedication to the game has contributed significantly to their teams.
Each individual selected to receive this award is a role model for their fellow teammates as well as everyone else they come in contact with. These players exemplify trust, respect, excellence, accountability, caring, confidence, and optimism.
The awards will be handed out during the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame 2017 Induction Ceremony weekend at a breakfast reception which will take place at the Hilton Lexington Downtown hotel on June 24th.
