By CHICAGO, Ill. – For the second straight season, Ty French has been selected as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, announced by The Analyst on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
The Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the national defensive player of the year in Division I FCS college football and presented by FedEx Ground. The Buchanan Award, first presented in 1995 and in its 29th season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
This season, French set a new school record for career sacks with 30.5. That mark passes GWU Hall of Famer and former Green Bay Packer Gabe Wilkinson (1990-93) who held the old mark of 28.5. French also set a new school record for career tackles-for-loss with 58. His 17.5 tackles-for-loss this season are tied with Jason Burns (1990) for the eighth-most in a single season and are the 10th most in the FCS. French has also forced three fumbles this season, the seventh most in the FCS.
French also holds school record for career tackles-for-loss with 58, passing Brian Johnston (2004-07) for the most in school history after picking up a pair of sacks last week against Charleston Southern.
French has been an anchor on a defensive line that has allowed less than 100 yards rushing in three straight games and tallied a school record 18 tackles-for-loss against Tennessee Tech.
French joins Terrell Allen of Tennessee State and Daylan Dotson of UT Martin as the only two nominees for the award from the Big South-OVC Football Association.
All 13 FCS leagues, comprised from 15 conferences overall, are represented by a Buck Buchanan Award finalist. The winner, to be selected by a national voting panel, will be announced at the FCS National Awards Banquet on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas – the eve of the FCS championship game.
