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Charlotte TD Club & The Independence Fund Defender of the Nation Award Player Profile: U.S. Coast Guard’s JAKE BEHNE

Oct. 4, 2018
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ethan Turner
828-320-0517

U.S. COAST GUARD’S JAKE BEHNE

Bio: Jake Behne is a three-year starter at the linebacker position for the United States Coast Guard Academy. Jake is a Management major and also plays baseball for the USCGA. Behne is from Clifton, VA and is the son of Dan, an Air Force Academy graduate, and Anne Behne. Jake has three siblings, Mark, Scott and Rachel. Mark played both football and baseball as well at the USCGA and graduated in 2016. His oldest brother Mark is in the Marines.

Stats: 2017: led the team with 72 tackles, 43 solo, including four for loss with a forced fumble, recovered fumble and an interception. 2016: NEFC second-team selection… registered 63 tackles, 46 solo, five for loss and had one interception. 2015: had 28 tackles, 17 solo, three for loss and a sack while recovering two fumbles while being named the team Rookie of the Year.

Quote from U.S. Coast Guard’s Head Coach Bill George:
“Jake has been one of the hardest working guys. He is a four-year starter and the leader of our defense. He is a dedicated player that shows up at 6 a.m. for the non-traditional practices in the Spring as well as playing on the baseball team in the afternoon. He goes 100 miles per hour and doesn’t let up and is a tremendous leader for us as a senior.”

The recipient of the Defender of the Nation Award will be announced on November 1st from one of the Nation’s (9) military academies and institutions including Air Force Academy, The Citadel, Coast Guard Academy, Naval Academy, Norwich University, Texas A&M University, Virginia Tech, VMI and West Point and is based on exceptional leadership qualities on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The recipient must also exhibit a high standard of integrity by leading through example.

The annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Awards Banquet presented by ACN, will be held on Monday, December 3rd at the Charlotte Convention Center. In addition to honoring the 2018 Defender of the Nation Award winner, the banquet will celebrate the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy sponsored by ACN and Legends Award sponsored by Rolle Oral & Facial Surgery. Ohio State’s Tom Cousineau, a College Football Hall of Famer will be honored as the Legends Award winner and Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is slated as the keynote speaker.

ABOUT THE CHARLOTTE TOUCHDOWN CLUB AND ITS PRESENTING SPONSOR
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C. region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a Sponsor Team of more than 80 companies. The club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through corporate and individual support, more than $2,000,000 has been raised to benefit the club’s scholarship efforts. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.mysites.io). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.mysites.io.

THE INDEPENDENCE FUND
Moving Our Nation’s Wounded Heroes Towards Greater Independence!
The Independence Fund’s mission is to support the Nation’s injured and wounded Veterans with the tools to achieve their independence and freedoms they have fought so hard to preserve! It is a laser-focused non-profit organization that provides independence to severely wounded Veterans through mobility, wellness, and caregiver support. Those who sacrifice for our country do so willingly with great pride and honor, and it is our privilege to serve them!

2017 DEFENDER OF THE NATION AWARD RECIPIENT: GREG SANDERS
When economics and business major Cadet Greg Sanders ’18 received his first recruiting letter from VMI, he threw it away. Even though he was from a military family – an Air Force mom and a Marine dad – the then-teenager from Memphis, Tennessee, wanted “the typical college life.” Then, he visited VMI. As someone who likes taking the road less traveled, he decided that VMI was for him. After going through the Ratline and breaking out, Greg said, there was no turning back. He was fully committed to VMI. He earned a football scholarship, played as a safety and was a team captain. Currently, Greg is a 2nd LT. stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base. He works at the Space and Missiles Center in the Military Satellite Communication Systems Directorate (MILSATCOM).

2016 DEFENDER OF THE NATION AWARD RECIPIENT: ANDREW KING
Andrew King, Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point is the recipient of the inaugural Defender of the Nation Award. A two-year starter at linebacker, King has served as Platoon Leader and Honor Officer and majors in Law and Legal Studies. Jeff Monken, United States Military Academy Head Football Coach, commented, “Andrew is one of the finest young men I have been associated with during my coaching career. He has the respect of everyone in the locker room as well as the Corps of Cadets for his character and his commitment to the United States Military Academy’s values of Duty, Honor, Country. I am extremely proud of Andrew and what he has been able to accomplish at the Academy and he is truly one of America’s best.”

2018 DEFENDER OF THE NATION PLAYER PROFILES
• September 13: Virginia Tech / Ricky Walker
• September 20: U.S. Naval Academy / Jason Williams
• September 27: Norwich / Bo Phillips
• October 4: U.S. Coast Guard / Jack Behne