Ankrah, Taylor, Jackson Announced as Buck Buchanan Award Finalists

The 2017 finalists for the SATS FCS Walter Payton Award — given to the most outstanding player in FCS football — have been announced.

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The three finalists include JMU​ defensive end Andrew Ankrah, Jacksonville State defensive end Darius Jackson, and Western Illinois linebacker Brett Taylor.

The winner will be announced at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet on Jan. 5, 2018 in Frisco, Texas.

Here's a look at the three finalists for the yearly award.

MORE: Briscoe, Streveler, Doss Named Walter Payton Award Finalists

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Andrew Ankrah, DE — JMU​

[credit]JMU Athletics[/credit]

Andrew Ankrah has anchored a JMU defense that has been stifling to say the least on the way to a 12-0 record this year. Ankrah has 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss this season, with 49 tackles a pair of forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries, and a defensive score on his stat sheet as well.

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Darius Jackson, DE — Jacksonville State

[credit]Matt Reynolds & Katy Nowak/@JSUGamecocks Facebook[/credit]

One of the top FCS NFL Draft prospects this season, Jackson put together a monster season for Jacksonville State. He broke his own record with 20.5 tackles for loss this season, adding seven sacks and 23 QB hurries. He totaled 55 tackles and had three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries.

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Brett Taylor, LB — Western Illinois

[credit]WIU-Visual-Production-Center[/credit]

Western Illinois' top tackler was also the top tackler in all of FCS play — a whopping 162 tackles. He added 13 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, a pair of forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks.

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2017 Buck Buchanon Voting Results

The top three will be revealed in order in January, but voting results have been released by STATS for the rest of the top 25 finishers:

4. Jonathan Petersen, DE, San Diego
5. Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State
6. Mike Basile, S, Monmouth
7. Ahmad Gooden, DE, Samford
8. P.J. Hall, DL, Sam Houston State
9. Anthony Ellis, DE, Charleston Southern
10. Warren Messer, LB, Elon
11. Sione Teuhema, LB, Southeastern Louisiana
12. Nick DeLuca, LB, North Dakota State
13. Tremon Smith, CB, Central Arkansas
14. Matthew Oplinger, LB, Yale
15. Brandon Bryant, LB, Lafayette
16. Jared Farley, LB, Northern Iowa
17. Marlon Bridges, S, Jacksonville State
18. Garrett Dolan, LB, Houston Baptist
19. Jaison Williams, DE, Austin Peay
20. Christian Rozeboom, LB, South Dakota State
21. Josh Buss, LB, Montana
22. (Tie) De'Arius Christmas, LB, Grambling State
22. (Tie) Davontae Harris, CB, Illinois State
24. Mario Jenkins, LB, Idaho State
25. Malik Duncan, CB, Saint Francis

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Previous Buck Buchanon Award Winners