MOREHEAD, Ky. – With numerous historical record projects and updates underway, Morehead State Athletics wants to continue highlighting records and historical performances from the athletic department's 93-year history.

To do so, we introduce our weekly feature, "The Friday Five" which highlights various top-five game, season, career, or team performances for all Eagle programs.

This week, we soar the skies to celebrate the ballhawks who have roamed the secondary for Morehead State Football, highlighting a group that features three Morehead State Athletic Hall of Famers and two NCAA statistical champions as we spotlight the top single-season interception totals.

Justin Grier (2015, nine interceptions)… The first entry on this list is also the most recent as Grier led a Morehead State defense that was one of the top turnover forcing units in the FCS, finishing third in turnover margin (1.18), ninth in interceptions (18), and 13th in turnovers gained (28). Grier tied for the FCS lead, corralling nine interceptions while leading the NCAA in interceptions per game (0.82). He picked off a pass in seven of 11 games during the 2015 campaign, including a pair of two-interception performances against Butler and Valparaiso. Grier's performance garnered unanimous selection as First Team All-Pioneer Football League and a spot as a Third-Team FCS All-American by the Associated Press.

David Hyland (2007, eight interceptions)… The most recent MSU football player to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame, Hyland's eight interceptions in 2007 helped make him an NCAA statistical champion, leading the FCS in interceptions per game with 0.88. A First Team All-PFL performer and Sports Network Mid-Major All-American in 2007, he stands as the PFL's career interceptions leader with 21 career thefts. Following his time at Morehead State, Hyland embarked on a successful nine-year professional football career, spending seven seasons in the Arena Football League and two in the Canadian Football League. In the AFL, he was a member of the Arena Bowl XXVIII champions San Jose SaberCats where he earned Defensive Player and Iron Man of the Game honors in the championship game. Hyland's 2015 AFL season also culminated with his selection as the recipient of the Al Lucas AFL Pulse Hero Award, an award "presented annually to the player who makes the most significant contribution to both his community and the game of Arena Football."

Larry Baldridge (1970, seven interceptions)… Considered to be one of the best free safeties in Morehead State history, the hard-hitting and instinctive Baldridge was a disruptive force for coach Jake Hallum's 1970 defense, forcing eight total turnovers for the unit. His play garnered Honorable Mention All-American status and a spot on the All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team. Baldridge began his MSU career under the tutelage of the future Western Kentucky head coach Jack Harbaugh in 1967 before making a switch to the offensive side of the ball in 1968. Upon returning to the defensive side of the ball in 1969, he made a name for himself in the defensive backfield and graduate from MSU as the program's career interceptions leader.

Vic Williams (1973, seven interceptions & 1975, six interceptions)… A fixture in the Morehead State secondary in the early 1970s, Williams occupies two spots on this list. Coached positionally by two future MSU head coaches (Tom Lichtenberg in 1973 and Bill Baldridge in 1975), Williams graduated as the program's career interception leader, a mark that stood until 2007. His 16 career interceptions rank second in MSU history. A two-time All-OVC First Team member, Williams garnered the honor in his final two seasons, collecting 76 tackles in 1974 and six interceptions and three fumble recoveries in 1975.

Charles Byrd (2002, six interceptions)… Another member of the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2017), Byrd roamed the secondary from 2001 to 2004 and was a member of three PFL South Division Championship teams (2002-04). A Football Gazette Division I-AA Mid-Major All-American and PFL All-South Division member in 2002, the awards were just the first of his five All-American honors and three All-PFL honors in his career. Following his time at Morehead State, Byrd spent time on the offseason and training camp rosters of the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Redskins before spending one season with the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League. Currently, he serves as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach for the New Orleans Saints and has been with the team since 2008.

Ron Gathright (1969, six interceptions)… A member of the 1993 Athletic Hall of Fame class, Gathright was a two-sport athlete at MSU, competing in both men's basketball and football. In 1968, he gave up football to concentrate on basketball but returned to the football field in 1969 where defensive backs coach Larry Marmie saw his speed, agility, and jumping strengths as the perfect tools for a standout defensive back. Gathright proved Marmie right in 1969, plucking six interceptions in his first season back on the gridiron, including one he returned for a touchdown. He earned Second Team All-OVC honors in 1969 and 1970 and was named Honorable Mention All-OVC in basketball once.