Welcome to the 2019 FCS Kickoff Jersey Countdown.
The regular season begins Saturday, Aug. 24 with Samford vs. Youngstown State in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff along with Villanova playing at Colgate.
[divider]MORE FCS FOOTBALL:
- FCS Home
- The Best Player in FCS Who Wears Each Number, 1-99
- Preseason Top 25 Poll
- Preseason All-American Teams
- Team By Team & Conference Previews
[divider]
HERO Sports is going to count down each day by highlighting the best player in the FCS who wears the jersey number equal to the number of days until kickoff. You can find the running list of top players here.
*Note: Jersey numbers are from the 2018 season.
[divider]
8: Angelo Garbutt, LB (Sr.) — Missouri State
Garbutt joins fellow Bears linebacker McNeece Egbim on this list with Egbim being named the best No. 52. Both were selected on the 2019 Preseason MVFC All-Defensive Team with Garbutt being named on the First Team and Egbim earning Honorable Mention.
Garbutt, at 6-foot-2 and 232 pounds, started his college career at Iowa before transferring to MSU in 2017. In his first season with the Bears, Garbutt was named to the All-Conference Second Team and the All-Newcomer Team after racking up 85 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
RELATED: 2019 Mo State Season Preview
Last season, Garbutt ranking 31st in the FCS and fifth in the Valley with a team-high 99 total tackles. In 11 starts, he added eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Texas native was named an All-MVFC Honorable Mention performer.
Garbutt was at his best toward the end of 2019 and had double-digit tackles in six of the last seven games. Look for that to continue in his senior season.
[divider]
NEXT: The Best Traditions in the FCS
SUBSCRIBE: HERO Sports FCS Podcast
