The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MIKE Strachan was recognised by the Mountain East Conference for his record-setting junior season for the Charleston Golden Eagles football programme.

Strachan was named to the All-MEC First Team when the league announced its annual awards and all-conference teams.

The Freeport native finished with 78 receptions for 1,319 yards and 19 touchdowns. He set new school records, led the Mountain East Conference in each category and was second in all of DII in both receiving yards and touchdowns.

Strachan caught touchdown passes in 10 of 11 games this season, including six multi-touchdown games.

Strachan is currently on pace to break the all-time UC touchdown record but has already rewritten the school’s record books in several categories. He currently holds school records in receiving yards (1,319), beaking his own previous record of 1,007 set in 2018.

His 19 receiving touchdowns broke the 70-year record of 13 held by Charlie Hubbard in 1950. His 78 receptions broke the record of 60 set by Terrance Spencer in 2006.

In addition to single-season records, Strachan broke the single-game records of: Receptions (13) – Set against Urbana on September 12 and also holds the second place spot of 12 receptions set a month later against Notre Dame College and receiving yards (207) also set on October 12 against Notre Dame College, breaking the previous record of 186 set in 2010 by Andre Higgins.

The Golden Eagles finished the regular season 8-3, second in the conference behind Notre Dame College at 10-1.

Strachan’s father, Jerome Strachan, was a wide receiver at Bethune-Cookman University. “We just knew that was the road I wanted to take from birth,” Strachan said as he was profiled by the West Virginia Gazette. “[My father] has been through it all. He’s been through the insides and outs of the game, so he would teach me what he knows. He’d teach me his experiences.”

Currently a two-sport star for the Golden Eagles, Strachan also competes in the 400m and 200m.

“He was a track kid playing football,” Eagles football head coach Pat Kirkland said to the Gazette. “We knew he’d take a little bit of work, but we knew we had a really good athlete. He’s a very, very coachable young man.

“The takeoff and the explosiveness was all there. It was more or less understanding that, when you’re a receiver, you’ve got to know what your coverage is, what your leverage is, because that’s what sets up your route.”

He was a redshirt in his true freshman season and saw the first playing time of his collegiate career as a redshirt freshman when he finished with just one reception.

As a sophomore, he had a breakout season when he finished as the only player in the MEC to eclipse the 1,000 yard receiving mark.

On the season, he totalled 48 receptions for 1,007 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the conference in receiving yards, was third in both average yards per catch at 21 and average yards per game at 91.5. His touchdown total finished fourth.

“I learn from my mistakes. So if a DB gets me one time, the first thing I think is I’ve got to get them back the next time. And I’ll do you more than you do me,” Strachan said. “I’m more proud of the way the guys look at me. I’m more of a team player and I do whatever I can to help my team win. I just like being a role model for others.

“That’s what I’m proud of, doing what I do and shining for the team.”