TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State football picked up several honors late Friday afternoon when Phil Steele announced FCS Postseason Awards. Curt Mallory was named FCS Coach of the Year, linebacker Jonas Griffith earned his third All-American award and wide receiver Dante Hendrix was named to the Freshman All-American list.
 
The honor comes after Mallory was selected as the Missouri Valley Football Coach of the Year for the first time in his career following the regular season. It marked the first time since 2010 (Trent Miles) that ISU has been represented with a Coach of the Year honor.
 
After an 0-11 season in 2017, Mallory completed the biggest turnaround in college football, leading the Sycamores to a 7-4 finish, a third-place finish in the MVFC and a No. 22 national ranking.
 
Coming into 2018, Indiana State was picked to finish last in the MVFC. The Sycamores finished 5-3 in the most grueling league in FCS, ranking ahead to two FBS conferences. Two of the Sycamores three conference losses came by three points, including an overtime loss to No. 3 South Dakota State in Brookings and a loss against Missouri State.
 
The Sycamores closed out the season winning five-straight games, the first time that ISU has won five-straight in league play since 2012. Indiana State is also one of 18 FCS programs to win four road games this season.
 
Griffith, a redshirt junior, was named a Third Team All-American at linebacker by Steele after earning All-American status from HERO Sports and STATS FCS earlier in the postseason. He is the first Sycamore to earn three All-American honors in a postseason since Shakir Bell did so in 2011.
 
Season Synopsis - Made 11 starts at linebacker his redshirt junior year … Led the team and the MVFC in total tackles with 132 stops, including 81 unassisted tackles … Led the nation with 7.4 solo tackles per game and ranks fifth nationally with 12 tackles per game … Recorded 9.5 tackles for loss for 27 yards, including 4.5 tackles-for-loss in the season finale to force a punt that led to the game-winning field goal … The team leader with 3.5 sacks for 20 yards … Recorded double-digit tackles in eight of 11 games … Recorded a season high 18 tackles in back-to-back games against South Dakota State and Missouri State … Had a span of six weeks with double-digit tackles … Forced one fumble against South Dakota … Recovered a fumble and ran it 80 yards to the house at Youngstown State … Had an interception for 20 yards against Louisville in week two … Credited with one quarterback hurry. 
 
Florence, Kentucky native Dante Hendrix will add a First Team Freshman All-American honor to his postseason awards after earning MVFC Newcomer honors this season. Hendrix led the Sycamores and finished eighth in the MVFC in total receptions with 47.
 
Season Synopsis - Closed out his first season with 681 yards receiving which was seventh-best in the Valley and a 14.5 yards per catch average … Finished with four touchdown catches on the season … Averaged 61.9 yards per game which was seventh-best in the conference … Exploded for a career high 186 yards receiving and two touchdowns in ISU's win at Youngstown State … Caught the game-winning touchdown in a triple overtime victory against South Dakota.
 
The Sycamores picked up 13 postseason honors in Steele's All-MVFC list. Griffith was the lone First Team honoree for ISU. Ja'Quan Keys (RB), Wyatt Wozniak (OL), Kartrell Moss (LB) and Jerry Nunez (K) were named Second Team, Dante Hendrix (WR), James Lang (OL), Isaiah Edwards (OL), Rondell Green (DB) were named Third Team and Ryan Boyle (QB), Tate Leavitt (OL), Kevin Kcehowski (OL), Rex Mosley (DL) were tabbed Fourth Team.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.