Defensive back Ta'Corian ‘CoCo’ Darden and tight end Mik'Quan Deane were named to Phil Steele's 2018 Postseason All-Conference USA Second Team, the publication announced Tuesday afternoon. In addition, linebacker Ben Holt, defensive end DeAngelo Malone and long snapper Ben Reeder earned Third Team distinction.
Darden, a redshirt junior from Russellville, tied for third on WKU with 71 tackles (42 solo, 29 assisted). He tied for the team lead with three interceptions and led the Hilltoppers with 11 pass breakups, which ranked 10th and fourth among C-USA defenders, respectively. He also added four tackles for loss and a forced fumble of 2018 Doak Walker Award winner Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin.
A senior from Tulsa, Okla., Deane led C-USA tight ends with 44 receptions - 31 of which went for first downs - and six touchdowns, while finishing second with 529 yards receiving. On the national scope, he ranked 10th with 44 receptions, sixth with 31 first downs, 12th with 529 yards receiving and tied for seventh with six scores. He posted career-highs of 10 receptions and 112 yards receiving at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 10, and caught a pair of touchdowns at Ball State on Sept. 22.
After being voted a 2018 team captain by his peers, Holt led the Hilltoppers with 116 tackles (58 solo, 58 assisted), 11.5 tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries. He ranked fourth among C-USA defenders in tackles and 11th in tackles for loss. His 9.67 tackles per game set a WKU FBS Era record (dating back to 2009), surpassing Andrew Jackson's average of 9.38 in 2012.
A true sophomore, Malone led WKU defensive linemen with 60 tackles (31 solo, 29 assisted), ranked second on the roster with nine tackles for loss and led the team with six sacks for 40 yards lost. He had at least one sack in each of the Hilltoppers' final three games, including a career-high two takedowns on Nov. 24 at Louisiana Tech to go along with a forced fumble and a safety.
Reeder, meanwhile, followed up a 2017 season in which he made all 113 possible snaps as a true freshman. In 2018, he started all 12 games for the Hilltoppers while snapping nearly every kick and punt once again.
Second Team All-Conference USA
Ta'Corian Darden, DB, r-Jr.
Mik'Quan Deane, TE, r-Sr.
Third Team All-Conference USA
Ben Holt, LB, r-Jr.
DeAngelo Malone, DE, So.
Ben Reeder, LS, So.