BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference Male Athlete of the Year Award will stay at Notre Dame College as Jaleel McLaughlin (football) was given the honor by the MEC, on Wednesday afternoon. (MEC Release)

This is the second consecutive year that an NDC student-athlete has won the award after Will Vorhees (men's basketball) was honored last year.

McLaughlin put together another historic season in 2019. He ran for 2,316 yards, recorded 146 kick return yards and totaled 64 receiving yards for a final number of 2,526 all-purpose yards. By the end of the season, he had totaled 33 touchdowns (30 rushing) and scored 198 total points, or 14.1 per game. McLaughlin rushed for over 200 yards in four separate games and scored at least three touchdowns in six games. He led NCAA Division II in rushing yards, scoring, total touchdowns and all-purpose yards.

Notre Dame's starting running back helped lead the Falcons to 12 total wins, a second consecutive MEC Title and two wins in the NCAA Playoffs.

Along with earning the MEC Football Offensive Player of the Year Award and First Team All-MEC honors this season, he was also runner-up for the Harlon Hill Award, named the National Offensive Player of the Year by D2Football.com and was named First Team All-American by five outlets and First Team All-Region by two outlets.

"Jaleel is very deserving of this award, one of the hardest working players I have ever been around," said football head coach Mickey Mental. "His drive and passion to excel at a high standard is unmatched. Our program is very happy for him to be recognized as the top male athlete in this elite conference."

After playing 28 games over his first two seasons, the native of Marshville, N.C. already is at the top of the NDC career records in rushing touchdowns (48), rushing yards per game (169.2), all-purpose yards per game (186.6), total points scored (312) and touchdowns scored (52). Among active players in any of the NCAA divisions, he is first in career rushing yards per game (169.2), career all-purpose yards per game (186.6) and career points per game (11.1).

McLaughlin is the first sophomore and the first football player to win this award.

The MEC Male Athlete of the Year is selected by a vote of institutional administrators and the conference office.

Previous Winners
2014-15: Seger Bonifant (Basketball, West Liberty)
2015-16: Seger Bonifant (Basketball, West Liberty)
2016-17: Matt Bingaya (Basketball, Fairmont State)
2017-18: Thomas Vancaeyezeele (Soccer, Charleston)
2018-19: Will Vorhees (Basketball, Notre Dame)
2019-20: Jaleel McLaughlin (Football, Notre Dame)