Zappe, Malone shine at Reese's Senior Bowl on Saturday
A pair of Western Kentucky stars shine in Saturday's Reese's Senior Bowl
More on the two Hilltoppers as they look to improve their draft stock this past week in Mobile
Football Zappe, Malone shine during Saturday's Senior Bowl
- Thread starter Sean_Williams
- Start date
More on the two Hilltoppers as they look to improve their draft stock this past week in Mobile
Former WKU Football DE DeAngelo Malone earned the American Team's Most Valuable Player on Saturday at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl after grabbing a team-leading six total tackles, 0.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries.
"My goal was to come out here and play hard, play with a lot of juice and dominate. And I feel like I did that," Malone said in the post-game press conference. "The defense did a great job – even though we didn't come out with the win – it still was a great overall performance."
Malone was the only Group of Five player in the American Team's defensive line squad, which included seven draft prospects from the SEC. Among all 15 defensive lineman, Malone and App. State's D'Marco Jackson were the only player from Group of Five programs.
"Just getting the invitation here was a blessing, it's big for the program and my family," he said. "The experience was tremendous. I learned a lot, there was great competition here and I felt like I learned from those guys in my position group, too."
Malone has captured the attention of the Detroit Lions, more specifically outside linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard who worked with Malone throughout practices. On Thursday, Malone was congratulated by Sheppard after laying out a tight end during a counter-run play disruption.
"Coach Sheppard, the outside linebacker coach, he's a great guy, straightforward type of guy," Malone said. "I just felt comfortable around him."
In his time at Western Kentucky, the Atlanta, GA. native recorded 349 tackles, including 60 for loss, 34 sacks and 45 quarterback hurries over the course of 62 games. Malone started in 52 of those 62 games. Malone's 34 tackles are the all-time best in the program's 103 history while his 60 tackles for loss is ranked second behind Sherrod Coates' 75. His 349 tackles also rank second in the program's FBS era behind safety Devon Key's 350. Malone's 53 starts are the most of any defender in program history and tied for second among all WKU players, behind Brandon Ray's 54 starts.
Here's what Malone said about winning the MVP award:
"Winning the award, I can't do nothing but just give God the glory, man, it's big," he said. "I definitely feel like I improved in some areas this week and I feel like I made a name for myself."
"My goal was to come out here and play hard, play with a lot of juice and dominate. And I feel like I did that," Malone said in the post-game press conference. "The defense did a great job – even though we didn't come out with the win – it still was a great overall performance."
Malone was the only Group of Five player in the American Team's defensive line squad, which included seven draft prospects from the SEC. Among all 15 defensive lineman, Malone and App. State's D'Marco Jackson were the only player from Group of Five programs.
"Just getting the invitation here was a blessing, it's big for the program and my family," he said. "The experience was tremendous. I learned a lot, there was great competition here and I felt like I learned from those guys in my position group, too."
Malone has captured the attention of the Detroit Lions, more specifically outside linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard who worked with Malone throughout practices. On Thursday, Malone was congratulated by Sheppard after laying out a tight end during a counter-run play disruption.
"Coach Sheppard, the outside linebacker coach, he's a great guy, straightforward type of guy," Malone said. "I just felt comfortable around him."
In his time at Western Kentucky, the Atlanta, GA. native recorded 349 tackles, including 60 for loss, 34 sacks and 45 quarterback hurries over the course of 62 games. Malone started in 52 of those 62 games. Malone's 34 tackles are the all-time best in the program's 103 history while his 60 tackles for loss is ranked second behind Sherrod Coates' 75. His 349 tackles also rank second in the program's FBS era behind safety Devon Key's 350. Malone's 53 starts are the most of any defender in program history and tied for second among all WKU players, behind Brandon Ray's 54 starts.
Here's what Malone said about winning the MVP award:
"Winning the award, I can't do nothing but just give God the glory, man, it's big," he said. "I definitely feel like I improved in some areas this week and I feel like I made a name for myself."
