GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Louisville junior offensive tackle Mekhi Becton has been voted the winner of the 2019 Jacobs Blocking Trophy, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Monday.
The Jacobs Blocking Trophy has been awarded annually since 1953 to the player selected the most outstanding blocker in the ACC by a poll of the league’s head coaches and defensive coordinators. Becton is the first Cardinal to earn the trophy since Louisville joined the ACC in 2014.
The trophy is given in memory of William P. Jacobs, who served as president of Presbyterian College from 1935 to 1945. Becton will be recognized next weekend during activities surrounding the 2019 ACC Football Championship Game between Clemson and Virginia, which is set for Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.
Becton, a 6-foot-7, 369-pound native of Highland Springs, Virginia, is a three-year starter for the Cardinals. He is a key player in a Louisville unit that leads the ACC in offensive efficiency (169.3) while averaging more than 442 yards per game. The Cardinals rank third among ACC teams in rushing yards per game (214.4) and fourth in points scored (32.7 per game)
Becton earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors on Oct. 7 following the Cardinals' 41-39 win over Boston College and was credited with seven knockdown blocks in a late-season 56-34 win over Syracuse.
“I’m really proud of Mekhi and extremely happy for him because of all the hard work he put into this season,” Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield said. “Mekhi has had a tremendous year and deserves this outstanding recognition as one of the top blockers in the ACC. He has been a leader for our offensive line and our offense as a whole, and to be recognized for his accomplishments by members of this league is a great honor for Mekhi.
“To be the first Louisville player to win the Jacobs Blocking Trophy is truly a testament to the type of person and player Mehki has been this season.”
Winners of the ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy
1953 Bill Wohrman, FB, South Carolina
1954 Bill Wohrman, FB, South Carolina
1955 Bob Pellegrini, C, Maryland
1956 Hal McElhaney, FB, Duke
1957 Hal McElhaney, FB, Duke
1958 John Saunders, FB, South Carolina
1959 Doug Cline, FB, Clemson
1960 Dwight Bumgarner, T, Duke
1961 Art Gregory, T, Duke
Jim LeCompte, G, North Carolina
1962 Art Gregory, T, Duke
1963 Chuck Walker,T, Duke
1964 Eddie Kesler, FB, North Carolina
1965 John McNabb, G, Duke
1966 Wayne Mass, T, Clemson
1967 Harry Olszewski, G, Clemson
1968 Greg Shelly, T, Virginia
1969 Ralph Sonntag, T, Maryland
1970 Dan Ryczek, C, Virginia
1971 Geoff Hamlin, FB, North Carolina
1972 Ron Rusnak, G, North Carolina
1973 Bill Yoest, G, NC State
1974 Ken Huff, G, North Carolina
1975 Billy Bryan, C, Duke
1976 Billy Bryan, C, Duke
1977 Joe Bostic, G, Clemson
1978 Jim Ritcher, C, NC State
1979 Jim Ritcher, C, NC State
1980 Ron Wooten, G, North Carolina
1981 Lee Nanney, T, Clemson
1982 Dave Pacella, T, Maryland
1983 James Farr, G, Clemson
1984 Jim Dombrowski, T, Virginia
1985 Jim Dombrowski, T, Virginia
1986 Paul Kiser, G, Wake Forest
1987 John Phillips, G, Clemson
1988 Jeff Garnica, C, North Carolina
1989 Chris Port, T, Duke
1990 Ray Roberts, T, Virginia
1991 Ray Roberts, T, Virginia
1992 Ben Coleman, T, Wake Forest
1993 Mark Dixon, G, Virginia
1994 Clay Shiver, C, Florida State
1995 Clay Shiver, C, Florida State
1996 no recipient
1997 Tra Thomas, T, Florida State
1998 Craig Page, C, Georgia Tech
1999 John St. Clair, C, Virginia
2000 Tarlos Thomas, T, Florida State
2001 Brett Williams, T, Florida State
2002 Brett Williams, T, Florida State
2003 Elton Brown, G, Virginia
2004 Elton Brown, G, Virginia
2005 Eric Winston, T, Miami
2006 Josh Beekman, G-C, Boston College
2007 Steve Justice, C, Wake Forest
2008 Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia
2009 Rodney Hudson, G, Florida State
2010 Rodney Hudson, G, Florida State
2011 Blake DeChristopher, T, Virginia Tech
2012 Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina
2013 Cameron Erving, T, Florida State
2014 Cameron Erving, T-C, Florida State
2015 Roderick Johnson, T, Florida State
2016 Roderick Johnson, T, Florida State
2017 Mitch Hyatt, T, Clemson
2018 Mitch Hyatt, T, Clemson
2019 Mekhi Becton, T, Louisville