Jacksonville State University Athletics

JSU CAREER:
2018: Started in all 12 games that he played in as a key player in the Gamecocks’ secondary…named to the All-OVC First Team Defense…deemed a First Team All-American by the AFCA, a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press, and a Third Team All-American by Phil Steele…named Preseason All-American by Athlon Sports and HERO Sports…also named as a Preseason All-OVC safety…recorded the third most Interceptions on the team with two and returned one for a touchdown…returned a pick for a season-high 32 yards and a touchdown on Nov. 24 against East Tennessee State…also recorded the second most tackles for the team with 69…defensive efforts came from 40 unassisted tackles and 29 assisted…also picked up a fumble recovery against Kennesaw State in Atlanta on Nov. 17…twice he forced a tackle for loss, against UT Martin and Maine…recorded a season-high nine tackles against ETSU.

2017: Started all 12 games in the secondary as a redshirt sophomore…named a First Team All-American by Walter Camp…received Associated Press, HERO Sports and Phil Steele All-American Second Team honors…deemed a STATS Third Team All-American…placed on the HERO Sports All-Sophomore Team…named a Preseason All-American by STATS, Athlon and Lindy’s…selected as an All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team safety…named to the Preseason All-OVC Team…was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan FCS Defensive Player of the Year Award…recorded a team-high three interceptions for 137 yards and one touchdown…returned a pick 73 yards for a touchdown on Oct. 14 vs. Eastern Kentucky – the 10th-longest interception return for a score in JSU history…led the Gamecocks with 38 solo tackles and pitched in a second-most 43 assisted takedowns…his 81 total tackles ranked second on the team (Jonathan Hagler, 83)…posted a season-high nine tackles in three separate games, including eight unassisted at Eastern Illinois on Oct. 21…earned his first career blocked field goal in the second quarter against Southeast Missouri on Oct. 28…twice posted 2.0 tackles for loss in a game, backing Murray State up 11 yards on Nov. 4 to hold the Racers to negative rushing yardage (-3)…led the Gamecocks in tackles with seven at Georgia Tech on Sept. 9. 

2016: Started all 12 games in the secondary as a redshirt freshman…named a First-Team FCS Freshman All-American by Hero Sports…selected as a Third-Team All-American by STATS…chosen as the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year…selected as a First-Team All-OVC safety…earned OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors once…selected as OVC Newcomer of the Week twice…led the Gamecock defense with 87 tackles (49 unassisted, 38 assisted), which was seven more than the next player…one of only two players (Siran Neal) on the defense with 80-or-more tackles…third among all FCS freshmen with four interceptions, which ranked second on JSU’s defense…forced five fumbles, which was second in JSU single-season history and led the nation…also had four tackles for loss, one sack and two quarterback hurries…finished with two double-digit tackle games, including JSU’s matchup at LSU…finished with five-or-more tackles in all 12 games…picked off his first pass on Sept. 24 at Liberty…forced his first fumble in JSU’s season opener against North Alabama…one of five JSU players to pick off a pass against Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 22.
2015: Sat out the season as a redshirt.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played for head coach and former Gamecock Clifford Story (1993-96) at Lanett High School in Lanett, Ala…listed as a three-star recruit by Scout.com and a two-star recruit by Rivals.com…recorded over 90 tackles on defense and intercepted three passes for the Panthers…a versatile player that starred on the offensive side of the ball as well, rushed his way to Second Team All-State honors as a running back in his senior year…as a junior, was named the Opelika-Auburn News Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-State as an athlete after running for 2,310 yards and 34 touchdowns…led LHS to an 11-1 record and to the third round of the AHSAA Class 2A State Playoffs in his junior season…chose the Gamecocks over South Alabama, UAB, Southern Miss, Arkansas State and Western Kentucky.

PERSONAL: Full name is Marlon Theron Bridges…born April 7, 1997, in Valley, Ala…son of Marlon Bridges and Monzena McCullough…has three sisters, Maya, Tanashia and Ty, and two brothers, Pooh and Austin…majoring in communications.