By John Garner Jr., Cape Cod Times 

After transferring from Stonehill two years ago, senior linebacker Marshall McCarthy of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy football team didn't know what was in store for him.

Starting at linebacker for the Bucs past two seasons, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Duxbury native was named 2016 MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year after leading NCAA Div. III with 83 solo tackles (9.2 avg.).

He compiled 108 total tackles to rank 12th nationally and becoming the first player in school history to post back-to-back seasons with at least 100 tackles.

During the past two years at MMA, McCarthy registered 155 solo and 53 assists for 208 total tackles, including a career-high 20 tackles October 22 at UMass Dartmouth.

"I was looking for more structure in my life and certainly found it here at Mass. Maritime," said McCarthy, who is majoring in international marine business. "One of the things (Mass. Maritime) has is job placement and that's very important."

McCarthy is just the sixth MMA player named to the New England Football Writers Association Division II-III All-Star team and is one of 60 nominees for the Cliff Harris Award presented to the national's top small college defensive player.

A two-time all-MASCAC honoree, Marshall averaged nearly 11 tackles per game over the last two years for the Bucs, reaching double-digits stops 12 times (including seven this season) during that period.

MMA posted four wins in 2016 against SUNY-Maritime, Worcester State, Fitchburg State and Westfield State.