Stats Perform announced last week the finalists for the four national FCS awards: Walter Payton (best offensive player), Buck Buchanan (best defensive player), Jerry Rice (best freshman), and Eddie Robinson (coach of the year).
I am thankful to get a vote on these awards along with the regular-season weekly Top 25. As I did with my Top 25 ballots, I will publish my award votes for full transparency.
Voters are asked to choose their top five among the finalists, with No. 1 being their top choice.
Here’s my top five for each award:
Walter Payton
5. Isaiah Ifanse, Montana State RB
Statistics through Week 12: 210 carries, 1,258 yards, 8 TDs; 11 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD (11 games)
4. Cole Johnson, James Madison QB
Statistics through Week 12: 233 of 342 (68.1 percent), 2,953 yards, 32 TDs, 2 INTs; 184 rush yards, 5 TDs (11 games)
3. Cole Kelley, QB, Southeastern Louisiana University
Statistics through Week 12: 339 of 457 (74.2 percent), 4,382 yards, 38 TDs, 6 INTs; 442 rush yards, 16 TDs (11 games)
2. Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State RB
Statistics through Week 12: 190 carries, 1,317 yards, 15 TDs; 20 receptions, 133 yards; 3 TD passes (11 games)
1. Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington QB
Statistics through Week 12: 294 of 438 (67.1 percent), 4,257 yards, 40 TDs, 6 INTs; 224 rush yards, 3 TDs (11 games)
Barriere has been electric since taking over as the starting QB in 2018 and leading EWU to the national title game. He has a strong arm, is dynamic with his legs and can extend plays, and is the top play-maker in the FCS. He’ll go down as one of the more talented QBs in this subdivision’s history.
Buck Buchanan
5. Adam Bock, South Dakota State LB
Statistics through Week 12: 100 tackles (55 solo), 9 TFL (29 yards), 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 2 FF, 1 QBH, 1 BK (11 games)
4. Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross LB
Statistics through Week 12: 112 tackles (59 solo), 15 TFL (65 yards), 8 sacks, 3 PBU, 6 QBH (11 games)
3. Patrick O’Connell, Montana LB
Statistics through Week 12: 91 tackles (40 solo), 19.5 TFL (121 yards), 13 sacks, 5 QBH, 3 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD (11 games)
2. Isaiah Land, Florida A&M LB
Statistics through Week 12: 43 tackles (32 solo), 25.5 TFL (147 yards), 19 sacks, 2 PBU, 3 FF, 1 FR (11 games)
1. Troy Andersen, Montana State LB
Statistics through Week 12: 111 tackles (57 solo), 9.5 TFL (33 yards), 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 7 PBU, 1 FR, 1 QBH, 1 TD (11 games)
You have to look beyond the numbers to know Andersen’s impact on the field. While he is disruptive and makes plays everywhere, how he makes those plays is something else to watch. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds and arguably the fastest guy on the field, Andersen is one of, if not the most gifted athletes in the FCS. He can fill the A-Gap, close off a running angle outside the tackles, or run stride for stride with a slot receiver in coverage.
Jerry Rice
5. James Conway, Fordham LB
Statistics through Week 12: 131 tackles (61 solo), 6 TFL (14 yards), 1 INT, 1 PBU, 4 FF, 1 FR (11 games)
4. Tyler King, Stony Brook LB
Statistics through Week 12: 95 tackles (50 solo), 12,5 TFL (28 yards), 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 FF, 1 QBH (11 games)
3. Josiah Silver, New Hampshire DE
Statistics through Week 12: 80 tackles (42 solo), 20.5 TFL (88 yards), 12.5 sacks, 6 FF, 1 FR (11 games)
2. Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State QB
Statistics through Week 12: 248 of 361 (68.7 percent), 2,971 yards, 28 TDs, 5 INTs; 3 rush TDs (11 games)
1. Darius Hale, Central Arkansas RB
Statistics through Week 12: 198 carries, 1,015 yards, 17 TDs; 15 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD (11 games)
UCA has big names in the passing attack, but the emergence of Hale added an additional threat on the ground. The three-star recruit had an instant impact, scoring a TD in nine games and having five games of multiple rushing TDs. The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder was the finisher for an offense that averaged 34.5 points per game.
Eddie Robinson
5. Randy Sanders, ETSU
4. Troy Taylor, Sacramento State
3. Deion Sanders, Jackson State
2. Brent Vigen, Montana State
1. Jason Simpson, UT Martin
Simpson has been the head coach at UT Martin since 2006. He has had 10 winning seasons with the Skyhawks, and this year was the best yet with a 9-2 regular-season finish and then a first-round playoff win over Missouri State, its first win in the FCS postseason. The saying “doing a lot with a little” applies to many FCS teams operating on a small budget with limited resources, and it’s as true at UT Martin as anywhere else. Simpson has done a marvelous job having UT Martin be a consistently winning team, and now the Skyhawks are one of the better squads in 2021.
