Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown. Leading up to the start of weekly college football odds and Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
32: Adam Bock, LB (Jr.) — South Dakota State
SDSU always has a standout linebacker that seems like he’s been playing forever — T.J. Lally, Jesse Bobbit, Christian Rozeboom, Logan Backhaus. Just to name a few.
Adam Bock is the next in line. Just a junior, it feels like he’s been making plays for the Jackrabbits for five years as a household name.
He has led a stout SDSU defense in tackles in back-to-back seasons. A 2021 spring HERO Sports Freshman All-American, Bock had 74 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in 10 games.
Last fall, the 6-foot-1 and 215-pounder manned the middle of the defense again and totaled 125 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and eight passes defended in 15 games. Bock earned All-MVFC First Team honors and was a HERO Sports Sophomore All-American, a HERO Sports First Team All-American, and a Stats Perform Second Team All-American. He finished 11th in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award.
SDSU should have a great front seven again after ranking No. 20 in FCS scoring defense (19.7 PPG) and No. 14 in rushing defense (109.9 YPG) last year. Bock is a 2022 team captain, and we rank him the No. 2 returning FCS linebacker.
The SDSU team shares a similar ranking as our preseason No. 2 squad.
