- BEST IN STATE -

Elite pass rusher, Ty French, named Best In State FCS defensive lineman

Senior chasing conference, school sack records

Eric Lusk

Published

August 23, 2023

Gardner-Webb's Ty French has been a star for the Bulldogs since his freshman season. (Photo courtesy Gardner-Webb athletics).

Ty French has been a dominant member of the Gardner-Webb football defense since arriving on campus from Moultrie, Ga., in 2020-21.

French will begin the 2023 campaign as the NC Football News’ preseason Best In State top FCS defensive lineman.

The senior will be chasing records this season in addition to quarterbacks. French needs just one sack to tie the Big South Conference record for career sacks (25). He needs five more to reach the Gardner-Webb record, held by former NFL player Gabe Wilkins (29).

French finished last season with 11.5 sacks, 72 total tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, an interception and a forced fumble. He enters this year on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list (presented to the top defensive player in FCS). Phil Steele and Lindy’s named him the Big South/OVC preseason defensive player of the year.

Other notables from French’s bio:

… Enters the 2023 season on a number of FCS preseason All-America teams, including The Bluebloods, Lindy’s Sports and Athlon Sports …

Recognized by HERO Sports as the fifth-best returning defensive linemen in FCS and the fourth-best defensive end … HERO also profiled French earlier this summer, honoring him as the best FCS player to wear the number 47 this season … Considered one of the top seven returning defensive players in FCS by TheAnalyst.com …

Finished a successful 2022 season by being named FCS All-America by the Associated Press and Stats Perform. Also nabbed Big South Conference Defensive MVP honors (earning first-team all-conference for the third time), finished sixth in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award and made the Ted Hendricks Award final watch list …

Tallied nearly a football field’s worth of minus yardage as a junior in 2022 (15 tackles-for-loss, 97 yards). Set the Big South Conference single-season record with 11.5 sacks. Also had 18 QB hurries …

Has this impressive career stat line on the defensive side (through 28 total games): 171 tackles, 38.5 tackles-for-loss (for 237 total yards), 25 sacks (for 171 yards), four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked kick.

Began his career by being named the Big South Defensive Freshman of the Year and a HERO Sports Freshman All-America selection during the Spring 2021 COVID-shortened season … Was named to the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America team in the Fall of ’21.

With French helping lead the way, Gardner-Webb enters the 2023 season in the FCS Top 25 and a projected contender for the Big South/OVC championship. The Runnin’ Bulldogs open the ’23 campaign at Appalachian State on Saturday, Sept. 2. The home opener is the following Saturday when Elon visits for another in-state showdown.