Stats Perform announced yesterday 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:
RELATED: Brian’s Votes
Walter Payton
5. Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M, QB
The preseason All-SWAC First Team QB has lived up to the hype as Alabama A&M is 4-0. The 6-foot-5 signal-caller has thrown for 1,084 yards (67-113) in three games with 13 touchdowns to three interceptions.
4. Julius Chestnut, Sacred Heart, RB
Chestnut has been dominant this season, playing in four games and averaging 179.3 yards per game. He averages 7.7 yards per rush and has 11 total touchdowns.
3. Pierre Strong Jr., South Dakota State, RB
The best running back in the FCS has played a major role in SDSU’s 5-1 season en route to the No. 1 seed. In five games, Strong has rushed for 453 yards and two touchdowns in a balanced SDSU offense.
2. Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana, QB
Kelley has been a superstar this spring after stepping into a full-time starting role. The 6-foot-7, 260-pounder has an NFL arm, and he’s sliced defenses all season. Kelley threw for 2,662 yards (210-305), 18 TDs, and four interceptions in seven games.
1. Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington, QB
Barriere has been one of the most electric players in the FCS since taking over as the starter in EWU’s 2018 run to the national championship game. In six games this spring, he has thrown for 2,193 yards (166-268), 18 TDs, and six interceptions.
Buck Buchanan
5. Isaiah Chambers, McNeese, DE
The 6-foot-5 grad transfer has been a nightmare to block this spring. In seven games, he’s totaled 32 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and 11 quarterback hurries.
4. Jordan Lewis, Southern, DE
Lewis is absolutely relentless and lives in the backfield for a 5-1 Southern team. In just five games, he leads the team with 27 total tackles, 19 solo, 15 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks
3. Stone Snyder, VMI, LB
Great name, better player. VMI’s offense gets a lot of love, but the defense has played well too. Snyder has 76 tackles in seven games along with 9.5 TFLs and eight sacks.
2. Tre Walker, Idaho, LB
Walker highlights a talented Idaho defense. The physical presence in the middle totaled 54 tackles in only four games, including 4.5 TFLs and two sacks.
1. Colby Campbell, Presbyterian, LB
Campbell has been a tackling machine his whole career, and he’ll likely end up at an FBS school as he’s in the transfer portal. He had 90 tackles in 2018, 150 in 2019, and totaled 96 in seven games this spring.
Jerry Rice
5. Tony Muskett, Monmouth, QB
Muskett had the task of replacing All-American Kenji Bahar. No problem for the freshman. He’s led Monmouth to a 3-0 record and the Big South’s AQ while going 51-82 for 742 yards, eight touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
4. Jared Verse, Albany, DE
Verse is going to cause problems for many years in the CAA. In four games this spring, the 6-foot-4 and 250-pounder totaled 19 tackles, nine TFLs, and four sacks.
3. Seth Morgan, VMI, QB
VMI’s historic season didn’t come to a crashing halt when standout senior QB Reece Udinski went down with a season-ending injury. In stepped Morgan, who has thrown for 1,018 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception in his last three games.
2. Cameron Ward, UIW, QB
Ward lit it up in the Southland this spring and certainly doesn’t look like a freshman out there. In six games, he went 183-303 for 2,260 yards, 24 TDs, and four interceptions. UIW will try to hold onto him for dear life as nearby FBS schools will be taking notice if they haven’t already.
1. Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, QB
Gronowski may not have eye-popping numbers, but he is playing against the best defensive conference in the FCS. Plus, he has that “it” factor, which was highlighted in his passing and running ability in a monumental win at NDSU that shifted the playoff bracket. In six games, he’s thrown for 1,051 yards (76-133), eight touchdowns, and three interceptions along with 383 rushing yards and six TDs.
Eddie Robinson
5. Bobby Petrino, Missouri State
In his first season as head coach, Petrino and the Bears overcame a tough 0-3 record in the fall to go 5-1 this spring. Missouri State won a share of the MVFC title and is in the playoffs for the first time since 1990.
4. Bubba Schweigert, North Dakota
In UND’s first season in the MVFC, the Fighting Hawks won a share of the conference title with a 4-1 record. Schweigert and UND began the season with three straight ranked wins — No. 24 SIU, No. 3 SDSU, No. 20 USD.
3. Danny Rocco, Delaware
Rocco has done a great job getting Delaware football back into the national conversation. The Blue Hens are 5-0, continuing to play tough defense, and their offense has made tremendous strides from 2019.
2. K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston
Keeler has adjusted how SHSU is built to better contend for a national title. The Bearkats are still putting up video game numbers offensively, but the team is putting more emphasis on defense now. SHSU ranks No. 3 in scoring offense (44.8 PPG) and No. 11 in scoring defense (17.5 PPG). It is the No. 2 playoff seed with a 6-0 record.
1. Scott Wachenheim, VMI
Wachenheim has led VMI to its first FCS playoff appearance in program history, its first SoCon title since 1977, and its first winning season since 1981. Hired in December of 2014, Wachenheim has turned around the program in a major way. The Keydets went a combined 1-21 in 2017 and 2018, then went 5-7 in 2019. This spring, VMI is 6-1.
