Senior defensive end Zack Nash received nine of 11 first place votes and was selected The State Hornet Best Male Athlete  for the fall 2011 semester.

“It feels good, it’s a huge honor,” Nash said. “I’ve worked hard, so it feels good for it to pay off.”

Nash picked up right where he left off last fall and was voted to the all-Big Sky Conference first team for the second consecutive season. He also became the third Sacramento State defensive player to become a two-time first team all-Big Sky selection.

Nash ended the season with 52 total tackles, 15 for losses, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one blocked kick.

With 10.5 sacks, Nash broke the all-time Sac State career sack record and moved above all the Hornet greats with 29.5 sacks.

“It feels great,” Nash said. “It was a goal of mine when I started here. To me, it means a culmination of all I’ve learned and everything I’ve gone through. It makes it all worth it.”

Nash was also named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in his career when he dominated Idaho State for the second consecutive year.

In that game, Nash tied the single-game sack record he set last year with five sacks and he also tied the tackles for losses record he broke last year with six tackles. Nash finished the game with a season-high eight tackles and a forced fumble.

After breaking the sack record and dominating on the field again in 2011, Nash was voted first team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He is the third player ever at Sac State to win the award and joins the list with Sac State greats Charles Roberts (1998) and Fred Amey (2004).

Nash’s senior season was even sweeter with the upset wins against Oregon State University and the University of Montana and he said “it feels good to know I was instrumental in those wins.”

In his career, Nash has broke the single game sack record, tied the single game tackles for losses record twice, broke the single season sack and forced fumbles records and is the Hornets all-time career sacks leader.

Nash has also been named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week three times, honorable mention all-Big Sky twice, first team all-Big Sky twice, second-team All-American and first team All-American.

Nash will be graduating this year, but he said this is not the end of football for him.

“I plan on seeing where football takes me,” Nash said. “If it doesn’t work out, I want to put my criminal justice degree to use.”

Comments about Zack Nash:

Todd Davis, linebacker: “Zack is definitely looked up to on the team… like the older brother that is a huge success. People on the team try to match his work ethic and intensity he brings to everything he does. Zack was not only a tremendous weapon for our team, but he was also a tremendous leader. I have no doubt Zach will be great in the NFL.”

Anthony Parker, Sac State defensive coordinator: “We’re just proud of the work Zack has put in because he’s earned every one of those sacks and that’s accredited to his work ethic and dedication to this program. With his versatility and numerous things he can do, he’s going to be very interesting to some teams at the next level.”

Mike Nash, father: “I, and the rest of my family, couldn’t be more proud of his accomplishments. Throughout his career Zack has never said ‘no’ or ‘I can’t’ to a coach. I don’t even think it’s in his vocabulary. Now that Zach has played his last game at Sac State he is getting a lot of attention from NFL agents… We might be seeing him play on Sundays. 

Jeff Fleming, quarterback: “Nash is just an amazing person. He is a great player/ person on the field and off. He works very hard and he leads by example. He was the MVP of our team and the defense’s face on the field. Everyone looked to him to lead into battle.”

Josh Stanley can be reached at [email protected].