We have reached the middle of the 2019 FCS football season. Talk is starting to heat up about who the front-runners are for the four major awards.
Those major awards, presented by STATS FCS, are the Walter Payton Award (best offensive player), Buck Buchanan Award (best defensive player), Jerry Rice Award (best freshman) and Eddie Robinson Award (best coach).
Our FCS staff put together a list of candidates who currently deserve to be in the discussion for those awards. Check out the candidates below for the Buck Buchanan Award and let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll.
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FAN VOTES: Walter Payton | Buck Buchanan | Jerry Rice
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Eli Mencer, DL, Albany
The senior creates havoc in the backfield and leads the FCS with 13 tackles for loss. Mencer has added 6.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles.
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Kordell Jackson, DB, Austin Peay
The junior is an absolute ball hawk. Jackson is tied for first in the FCS with five interceptions. His 151 return yards off of those interceptions ranks second while his two pick-sixes rank tied for first. Jackson adds 15 tackles and four tackles for loss.
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Ryan Greenhagen, LB, Fordham
Greenhagen is just a sophomore but is a beast on the field. He leads the FCS with 53 solo tackles and is third with 75 total tackles. Greenhagen adds 11.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
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Andre Walker, DL, Houston Baptist
The senior lives in the backfield, leading the FCS with 10.5 sacks. His 13 tackles for loss are tied for seventh in the subdivision. Walker totals 32 tackles and has three QB hurries.
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Tre Walker, LB, Idaho
Walker is all over the place for the Vandals, ranking second in the FCS with 78 total tackles. The sophomore also has six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
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John Daka, DL, James Madison
Daka has been impossible to block at times this season. His 12.5 tackles for loss are tied for the second-most in the FCS. The senior has 31 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and four QB hurries.
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Dante Olson, LB, Montana
Olson is once again all over the field for the Griz. He has 69 tackles, which is tied for the sixth-most in the FCS, and his 11.5 tackles per game ranks third. The senior also has 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception.
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Bryce Sterk, DL, Montana State
Sterk is making impact plays for the Bobcats this season. He has 32 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries. The senior's TFLs rank tied for second in the FCS.
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Derrek Tuszka, DL, North Dakota State
Tuszka continues to be a huge disruptor on a rotating NDSU defensive line. The senior has 17 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and five QB hurries.
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Jabril Cox, LB, North Dakota State
Cox has been getting NFL interest since his sophomore season last year. He can impact a game in many ways and has 33 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, three QB hurries and two pass breakups.
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John Staton, LB, Samford
The junior is a tackling machine for Samford. Staton leads the FCS with 82 total tackles. He has recorded double-digit tackles in six of seven games.
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Christian Rozeboom, LB, South Dakota State
Finally a senior, Rozeboom is as good as ever for the Jacks. He has 47 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and one QB hurry.
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Zach Hall, LB, Southeast Missouri State
Last year's winner of this award is leading the SEMO defense once again. Hall, a senior, has 56 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries.
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LaCale London, DL, Western Illinois
London may not have the counting numbers voters like as an interior defensive lineman, but neither did Khalen Saunders last season. And London is grabbing the attention of NFL scouts at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds. This season, he has 21 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks.
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Voting ends at 3 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 18.