The countdown to the 2018 college football season is on. Four FCS teams are in action Aug. 25 as Duquesne takes on UMass, Prairie View faces Rice and North Carolina A&T and Jacksonville State square off in ESPN’s FCS Kickoff.
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HERO Sports is going to count down each day by highlighting the best player in FCS football who wears the jersey number of the number of days to kickoff. You can find the running list of top players here.
*Note: Jersey numbers are from the 2017 season.
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21: Kealand Dirks, RB (Sr.) — Furman
You have to wonder if defensive players question their decision to play college football every time they tackle Dirks. Not many thought they were signing up to tackle a 6-foot, 250-pound running back. Granted he is a fullback in the Southern Conference known for its option offenses, but Dirks proved to be one of the most difficult guys to bring down last year.
He was named to the Media All-Conference Second Team after rushing for 720 yards on 152 attempts for nine touchdowns. Dirks was key in Furman's .486 third-down conversion percentage that ranked sixth in the FCS. The go-to guy on the goal line, Dirks rushed for two touchdowns in four games while also going over 100 yards three times.
He enters 2018 on the preseason SoCon First Team. The Paladins finished 8-5 last season with a win in the playoffs. As long as Dirks is producing in the backfield, this team will compete at the top of the Southern Conference again.
#21 Kealand Dirks, rushes for 26 yards for a Touchdown! pic.twitter.com/ZcKw5Aorgj
— Furman Football (@PaladinFootball) November 11, 2017
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FCS Kickoff Countdown: The Best Player in FCS Who Wears Each Number, 1-99
CFB Countdown: The Best Player in FBS Football, 1-99
