The regular season has ended, and the playoffs are in the midst of an exciting rollercoaster ride to the finish of the D2 Football season.
But before is all said and done, we come together to honor those who were the best at their craft during the season. We of course, are talking about the HERO Sports Fan Choice awards where you decide who will take home the hardware in D2 Football.
We present today the voting for Defensive Player of The Year, given out to the best athlete that's job was to stop the ball across D2 Football for the entire 2017 season.
Without any further delay, let's find out who will be the 2017 Fan Choice Defensive Player of The Year!
Poll closes at NOON Pacific, Friday December 8, 2017.
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Marcus Martin, DE — Slippery Rock
2017 Stats: 15.5 Sacks / 82 Tackles / 26.5 TFL
PSAC West Defensive Player of The Year
Harlon Hill Nominee
National Leader in Sacks
NCAA All-Time Record Holder in Sacks (All Divisions)
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Luke Hrapchak, LB — California (PA)
2017 Stats: 118 Tackles / 12.0 TFL / 3.5 Sacks / 1 INT
2017 All-PSAC West First Team
Harlon Hill Nominee
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Kyle Kitchens, LB — Catawba
2017 Stats: 13.0 Sacks / 53 Tackles / 18 TFL
SAC Defensive Player of The Year
Harlon Hill Nominee
National Top Ten in Sacks
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Osband Thompson, LB — Tuskegee
2017 Stats: 131 Tackles / 6.5 TFL / 4 INT
SIAC Defensive Player of The Year
National Leader in Tackles
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D.J. Olmstead, DB — Washburn
2017 Stats: 6 INT / 3 INT TD / 56 Tackles / 4 FR
First Team All-MIAA Defense
Tied National Lead in INT Return TD
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Tershawn Wharton, DE — Missouri S&T
2017 Stats: 13.5 Sacks / 64 Tackles / 21 TFL
All-GLVC First Team Defense
National Top Five in Sacks
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Dennis Gardeck, LB — Sioux Falls
2017 Stats: 14.0 Sacks / 75 Tackles / 21 TFL
NSIC Defensive Newcomer of The Year
Harlon Hill Nominee
National Top Five in Sacks
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Darius Williams, DB — CSU-Pueblo
2017 Stats: 8 INT / 3 INT TD / 46 Tackles
All-RMAC First Team Defense
National Top Five in INT
Tied National Lead in INT Return TD
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