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.
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- 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
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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.
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47: Deshawn Stevens, LB (Jr.) — Maine
*Stevens is wearing No. 6 in 2019.
If you're the type of football fan that loves a tough, disciplined, runs-to-the-football defense, then Maine is the team for you. The defensive unit was wildly entertaining in the team's run to the semifinals last year. And a lot of standout players are back in 2019.
One of those is Stevens.
After getting his feet wet as a freshman in 2017, playing in 10 games (starting three) and totaling 50 tackles, he blew up last year. This dude was all over the field. He led Maine with 120 tackles and added 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, two pass breakups, and one interception. His tackles, TFLs, and sacks were all in the Top 5 in the CAA.
Stevens earned All-Conference Second Team honors and was on our Sophomore All-American First Team.
He enters his junior season as a HERO Sports Preseason Second Team All-American.
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