FRISCO, Texas (AP) — New Hampshire junior linebacker Matt Evans won the Buck Buchanan Award winner Thursday night as the Football Championship Subdivision’s outstanding defensive player.
He led FCS players with 154 tackles and 88 solo stops.
“I just try, and want to be, the best player I can be,” Evans said. “If I play well and get those honors, that is just added incentive. Obviously, it means more to me for the team to have a better season.”
Evans appeared on 113 of the 132 ballots and received 45 first-place votes. Northern Iowa senior linebacker L.J. Fort was seconds in the voting.
Towson running back Terrance West won the inaugural Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman. West ran for 1,294 yards and an FCS-high 29 rushing touchdowns.
