ALBANY, N.Y. – Stats Perform has announced 30 finalists for the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the national defensive player of the year in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and presented by FedEx Ground. University at Albany linebacker Dylan Kelly and defensive lineman Anton Juncaj have officially been named finalists for the prestigious award.
     
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.
 
Kelly finished the regular season with 145 total tackles, second in all of the FCS. He recorded 23 stops in an Oct. 7 matchup at Towson, a career-best and more in a single-game than any other player in the FCS this season. The senior linebacker added three sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. He registered eight TFLs for 31 yards.
 
Anton Juncaj set the UAlbany single-game sack record in the first game of the season, recording four against Fordham in Week 0 to kick off 2023. He finished the year second in the FCS in total sacks with 13.0, 2.5 more than teammate AJ Simon, who finished second in the CAA. The next closest player in the conference finished with just 9.5, 3.5 off of Juncaj's pace. The senior from Port Jervis collected 18.5 TFLs, 49 total tackles, eight quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and two pass breakups.
 
The Great Danes finished the 2023 regular season with an overall record of 9-3, going 9-1 against FCS level opponents. The UAlbany defense was the best in the CAA, allowing just 17.2 points per game, and the run defense topped the FCS allowing just 79.1 rushing yards on average.
 
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.
 
For the full list of finalists, see below.
 
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Terrell Allen, Tennessee State, Sr., 6-0, 275 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
65 tackles (44 solos), 28 TFL (149 yards), 14.5 sacks, 10 QBH, 5 FF, 1 FR, 10 QBH (11 games)
Finn Claypool, Drake, R-So., 6-1, 232 (Pioneer Football League)
55 tackles (33 solos), 19 TFL (79 yards), 12.5 sacks, 5 FF, 8 QBH, 2 PBU (11 games)
Daylan Dotson, UT Martin, Jr., 6-3, 255 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
51 tackles (27 solos), 19.5 TFL (82 yards), 7 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 17 QBH, 7 PBU (11 games)
Ty French, Gardner-Webb, Sr., 6-3, 230 (Big South-OVC Football Association)
105 tackles (56 solos), 24 TFL (103 yards), 7 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR, 20 QBH, 7 PBU (11 games)
Brody Grebe, Montana State, Jr., 6-2, 248 (Big Sky Conference)
43 tackles (18 solos), 12 TFL (64 yards), 8.5 sacks, 3 FF, 5 QBH, 2 PBU (11 games)
Thor Griffith, Harvard, Sr., 6-2, 320 (Ivy League)
55 tackles (25 solos), 11 TFL (66 yards), 3.5 sacks, 1 FF, 8 QBH (10 games)
Anton Juncaj, UAlbany, Sr., 6-3, 273 (CAA Football)
49 tackles (30 solos), 18.5 TFL (98 yards), 13 sacks, 3 FF, 8 QBH, 2 PBU (12 games)
Nate Lynn, William & Mary, Sr., 6-3, 255 (CAA Football)
58 tackles (35 solos), 11 TFL (92 yards), 8 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 3 QBH (10 games)
Eric O'Neill, LIU, So., 6-3, 250 (Northeast Conference)
79 tackles (50 solos), 22.5 TFL (87 yards), 5.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 INT, 7 QBH, 3 PBU (11 games)
Steven Parker, UIW, Jr., 6-4, 265 (Southland Conference)
36 tackles (19 solos), 14.5 TFL (92 yards), 7 sacks, 3 FF, 6 QBH, 1 PBU, 1 BK (10 games)
Jay Person, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-3, 233 (Southern Conference)
53 tackles (26 solos), 16 TFL (74 yards), 8.5 sacks, 3 FF, 6 PBU, 1 PBU (11 games)
David Walker, Central Arkansas, Jr., 6-3, 260 (United Athletic Conference)
57 tackles (33 solos), 18 TFL (68 yards), 8.5 sacks, 1 FF, 3 QBH , 1 PBU(11 games)
 
LINEBACKERS
Amir Abdullah, Illinois State, Jr., 6-3, 215 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
64 tackles (34 solos), 14 TFL (77 yards), 9.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT, 3 QBH, 1 PBU (11 games)
Colton Adams, Alabama State, R-So., 6-1, 244 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
108 tackles (61 solos), 15 TFL (43 yards), 4 sacks, 2 FF, 5 QBH, 2 PBU, 1 BK (10 games)
Logan Blake, Eastern Kentucky, Grad, 6-2, 240 (United Athletic Conference)
132 tackles (71 solos), 10.5 TFL (30 yards), 2.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 2 INTs, 3 PBU, 3 QBH (11 games)
Micah Davey, McNeese, R-So., 6-2, 239 (Southland Conference)
153 tackles (83 solos), 7 TFL (13 yards), 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 4 QBH, 3 PBU (10 games)
Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, 5th Year, 6-0, 237 (Patriot League)
123 tackles (63 solos), 12 TFL (39 yards), 6 sacks, 3 FF, 14 QBH (9 games)
Braxton Hill, Montana, Sr., 6-2, 225 (Big Sky Conference)
91 tackles (33 solos), 4.5 TFL (24 yards), 1 FR, 2 INTs, 5 QBH, 3 PBU (11 games)
Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian, Sr., 6-4, 248 (Southland Conference)
46 tackles (19 solos), 9 TFL (55 yards), 6.5 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR, 1 INT, 3 QBH, 2 PBU, 1 BK (10 games)
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Jr., 6-4, 210 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
75 tackles (47 solos), 9.5 TFL (30 yards), 3 sacks, 2 INTs (one for TD), 1 PBU, 7 QBH (10 games)
Dylan Kelly, UAlbany, Sr., 6-2, 224 (CAA Football)
145 tackles (83 solos), 8 TFL (31 yards), 3 sacks, 1 FF, 2 FR, 2 INTs, 2 PBU, 2 QBH (12 games)
Logan Kopp, North Dakota State, So., 6-1, 222 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
69 tackles (32 solos), 7.5 TFL (33 yards), 3.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 3 INTs, 4 PBU, 2 QBH (11 games)
Isaiah Major, Florida A&M, Sr., 6-1, 230 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
94 tackles (55 solos), 11.5 TFL (47 yards), 2 sacks, 1 FR, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 4 QBH (11 games)
Brock Mogensen, South Dakota, Sr., 62, 235 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
103 tackles (49 solos), 2.5 TFL (6 yards), 1 sack, 1 INT, 3 QBH (11 games)
Winston Reid, Weber State, Sr., 6-1, 230 (Big Sky Conference)
118 tackles (68 solos), 12 TFL (50 yards), 1.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 7 QBH (11 games)
Billy Shaeffer, Lafayette, Sr., 6-3, 232 (Patriot League)
75 tackles (49 solos), 20.5 TFL (102 yards), 10 sacks, 4 FF, 7 QBH, 5 PBU (11 games)
Tristan Wheeler, Richmond, R-Sr., 6-2, 228 (CAA Football)
104 tackles (60 solos), 9 TFL (28 yards), 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 QBH, 1 PBU (11 games)
 
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard, Sr., 6-1, 214 (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)
65 tackles (42 solos), 4 TFL (17 yards), 1.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 3 INTs, 3 PBU, 2 QBH (11 games)
PJ Jules, Southern Illinois, Sr., 6-1, 209 (Missouri Valley Football Conference)
100 tackles (44 solos), 12 TFL (41 yards), 1 sack, 1 FF, 10 PBU, 3 QBH (11 games)
Lance Wise Jr., Mercer, Sr., 5-9, 195 (Southern Conference)
72 tackles (34 solos), 2.5 TFL, 1 FF, 4 INTs, 2 defensive TDs, 2 PBU (11 games)
 
Click here to view the official release from Stats Perform.
 
The Great Danes earned the No. 5 overall seed in the FCS Playoffs as well as a first-round bye. The Great Danes will host either NC Central or CAA foe Richmond on Dec. 2 at Casey Stadium.
 
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