Two football players from Chattanooga won the Ohio Valley Conference’s top awards Tuesday. Tennessee Tech wide receiver Tim Benford was named the offensive player of the year and Tennessee State linebacker Rico Council was the defensive player of the year.
Benford, a senior who played at Red Bank High School, led the OVC with 58 receptions for 826 yards despite facing double coverage on a regular basis. He also helped lead the No. 20 Golden Eagles to a share of the OVC title and the program’s first trip to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
“It definitely means a lot,” Benford said. “It’s something special that I can put in the final chapter of my career playing football.”
Benford ranks third all-time in the OVC in career receptions (210) and receiving yards (3,007). He’ll get to add to those numbers Saturday when Tennessee Tech (7-3) hosts Central Arkansas (8-3) in a first-round game at Tucker Stadium.
“It’s an honor to be in the playoffs, something we’ve never done here, and it’s another chance to put Tennessee Tech on the map,” he said.