Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham Named Semifinalist for Broyles Award
November 21, 2017 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After overhauling Mississippi State's defense to national prominence, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2017 Broyles Award, the organization announced Tuesday. The award is given annually to the nation's top assistant coach.
In just his first season in Starkville, Grantham has turned a defense that ranked in the lower half in the Southeastern Conference in virtually every defensive category into a fast, physical, aggressive defensive unit that ranks amongst the best in the country.
Currently the Bulldogs rank in the Top 25 nationally in five defensive categories, including first in first down defense (13.1), ninth in total defense (297.2) and passing defense (168.5), 20th in scoring defense (19.5) and 25th in rush defense (128.7). Last season MSU ranked last in the SEC in passing defense (281.5), the turnaround mark currently ranks third in the conference and is the best at MSU since 2002.
State's total defense, scoring defense and yards per play average of 5.2 are also all the best at MSU since the 1999 season, while its first down defense is the best since 1963. The Bulldogs also rank second in the conference in red zone defense at 76.2, the best mark since 73.3 in 2015. MSU has forced 18 turnovers, including eight interceptions and three pick sixes and has scored four defensive touchdowns this season, which leads the SEC.
In his MSU coaching debut, Grantham rewrote the record books in State's 49-0 victory over Charleston Southern, the Bulldogs first shutout since the 2014 season. MSU allowed the fewest yards per play in school history (0.7), breaking the previous mark of 1.35 set against Howard College on Sept. 21, 1963. MSU's 33 yards of total offense allowed was the fewest since the 1963 contest against Howard as Grantham's defensive unit never allowed CSU to cross the 50-yard line.
Grantham added another impressive outing in MSU's SEC opener against LSU, its largest margin of victory in the 111-year series history. Grantham's defense held the Tigers to one touchdown, the fewest points allowed against LSU since Nov. 15, 1975. MSU turned in another strong defensive performance against second-ranked Alabama as State's defense racked up five sacks, the most allowed by Alabama since the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Grantham's tutelage has guided junior Montez Sweat and sophomore Jeffery Simmons to several accolades, including a total of five SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors while Simmons is a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award. MSU is the first team to win SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week five times in a season since Auburn in 2010. Sweat leads the SEC with 9.0 sacks, which ties for the most sacks by a Bulldog over the last 12 years.
An 18-member selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, along with a committee representing the Football Writers Association of America will select the five finalists as well as the overall winner. Those finalists will be invited to travel to Little Rock, Ark., where the 2017 Broyles Award winner will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.
In just his first season in Starkville, Grantham has turned a defense that ranked in the lower half in the Southeastern Conference in virtually every defensive category into a fast, physical, aggressive defensive unit that ranks amongst the best in the country.
Currently the Bulldogs rank in the Top 25 nationally in five defensive categories, including first in first down defense (13.1), ninth in total defense (297.2) and passing defense (168.5), 20th in scoring defense (19.5) and 25th in rush defense (128.7). Last season MSU ranked last in the SEC in passing defense (281.5), the turnaround mark currently ranks third in the conference and is the best at MSU since 2002.
State's total defense, scoring defense and yards per play average of 5.2 are also all the best at MSU since the 1999 season, while its first down defense is the best since 1963. The Bulldogs also rank second in the conference in red zone defense at 76.2, the best mark since 73.3 in 2015. MSU has forced 18 turnovers, including eight interceptions and three pick sixes and has scored four defensive touchdowns this season, which leads the SEC.
In his MSU coaching debut, Grantham rewrote the record books in State's 49-0 victory over Charleston Southern, the Bulldogs first shutout since the 2014 season. MSU allowed the fewest yards per play in school history (0.7), breaking the previous mark of 1.35 set against Howard College on Sept. 21, 1963. MSU's 33 yards of total offense allowed was the fewest since the 1963 contest against Howard as Grantham's defensive unit never allowed CSU to cross the 50-yard line.
Grantham added another impressive outing in MSU's SEC opener against LSU, its largest margin of victory in the 111-year series history. Grantham's defense held the Tigers to one touchdown, the fewest points allowed against LSU since Nov. 15, 1975. MSU turned in another strong defensive performance against second-ranked Alabama as State's defense racked up five sacks, the most allowed by Alabama since the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Grantham's tutelage has guided junior Montez Sweat and sophomore Jeffery Simmons to several accolades, including a total of five SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors while Simmons is a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award. MSU is the first team to win SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week five times in a season since Auburn in 2010. Sweat leads the SEC with 9.0 sacks, which ties for the most sacks by a Bulldog over the last 12 years.
An 18-member selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, along with a committee representing the Football Writers Association of America will select the five finalists as well as the overall winner. Those finalists will be invited to travel to Little Rock, Ark., where the 2017 Broyles Award winner will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." All-access coverage is also available on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap.