With 2017 in the rearview mirror, let's look back on the best individual performances from the 2017 FCS football season.
Here we go — the top 7 performances of the 2017 season, as selected by the HERO Sports social media team:
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No. 7: Brett Taylor vs. South Dakota
Top #FCS Performances of 2017 – #7 @MacombGrown44 vs South Dakota: 28 tackles & 2.5 TFL
–> https://t.co/qupK1GeGay pic.twitter.com/SSjCqGayj7
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 26, 2017
The Buck Buchanon Award finalist added a big piece to his resume with a huge game against South Dakota. The Western Illinois linebacker totaled 28 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Taylor finished the season with an FCS-leading 162 total tackles. He had 66 solo tackles, 13.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 4 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles on the year.
Here's a few reasons why @MacombGrown44 got on the list pic.twitter.com/l8Oq6Vn7TH
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 26, 2017
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No. 6: D'Angelo Palladino vs. Lehigh
Top #FCS Performances of 2017 – #6@DPalladino_ vs Lehigh: 297 rush yards, 3 TDs
–> https://t.co/91W1LwF1pl pic.twitter.com/iQ5vXXZDVu
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 27, 2017
Fordham needed someone to step up against Lehigh with star running back Chase Edmonds out with an injury. Step up someone did. D'Angelo Palladino ripped off 297 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries, averaging 9.6 yards per carry. Palladino finished the season with 481 yards and 4 touchdowns, the vast majority of that coming against Lehigh.
ICYMI: this is what a @DPalladino_ TD looks like pic.twitter.com/AU4zU5OnWk
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 27, 2017
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No. 5: Mac McCain vs. Morgan State
Top #FCS Performances of 2017 – #5@Mac_cain20 vs Morgan St: 3 INTs, 2 pick sixes, TFL
–> https://t.co/kRhJv9Cp4I pic.twitter.com/JFD3352hlQ
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 28, 2017
North Carolina A&T's freshman phenom helped the Aggies to a 49-17 rout of Morgan State with three interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns, totaling 178 interception return yards in the process. He finished out the season with 46 tackles, 5 interceptions, 8 pass breakups and 13 passes defended, and his 274 total interception return yards were the eighth-most all-purpose yards on the team.
Here's one of @Mac_cain20's pick 6s pic.twitter.com/hV0BOPxzwT
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 28, 2017
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No. 4: Gage Gubrud vs. Montana
Top #FCS Performances of 2017 – #4@Gagegubs vs Montana: 549 pass yards, 4 pass TDs, rush TD
–> https://t.co/ooLzsgm2dH #GoEags pic.twitter.com/XOaprN6Elh
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 29, 2017
Gage Gubrud was vintage Gage Gubrud against Montana, leading Eastern Washington to a 48-41 victory with a whopping 549 pass yards, 4 passing touchdowns and a rushing score. Gubrud finished the season with four 400-plus yard games (and threw for 399 against Fordham) and threw 26 touchdown passes, rushing for five more.
Want to see @Gagegubs in action against Montana? We got you. pic.twitter.com/I9PesqFuA3
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 29, 2017
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No. 3: Daniel Smith vs. Davidson
Top #FCS Performances of 2017 – #3@dballin4 vs Davidson: 289 rush yards, 4 rush TDs, 156 pass yards, pass TD
–> https://t.co/UAjvzzGo7A pic.twitter.com/K8GFmzDI9G
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 30, 2017
Smith did a little bit of everything in Campbell's 42-29 win over Davidson. He rushed for 289 yards and four scores, and passed for 156 more yards with a passing touchdown. He threw for nearly 1,900 yards on the season and rushed for almost 1,300 yards, scoring 30 total touchdowns.
Need proof @dballin4 went off against Davidson? We got you. pic.twitter.com/DFQ77PB0BS
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 30, 2017
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No. 2: Jaelon Acklin vs. South Dakota
Top #FCS Performances of 2017 – #2@Jaelon_Acklin vs South Dakota: 19 receptions, 343 yards, 3 TDs
–> https://t.co/dvetykEWyK pic.twitter.com/x4zuqv4a9h
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 31, 2017
Western Illinois came up short against South Dakota, but in the process Jaelon Acklin put up huge numbers — 19 catches for 343 yards and three scores. He finished the year with 1,369 yards and 10 scores.
Want to see @Jaelon_Acklin making catches & breaking tackles against S, Dakota? Here you go. pic.twitter.com/ggjKgSXw3t
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) December 31, 2017
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No. 1: Bruce Anderson vs. Sam Houston State
Top #FCS Performances of 2018 – #1
Bruce Anderson vs Sam Houston St: 183 rush yards, 3 rushing TDs, 54 rec yards, 2 receiving TDs
–> https://t.co/B4FdwkyojS pic.twitter.com/k3K68nCjw6
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) January 1, 2018
Bruce Anderson helped North Dakota State earn a trip to the FCS Championship with a five touchdown performance against Sam Houston State, totaling 183 yards and three scores on the ground and 54 yards and 2 scores through the air. He's got over 1,100 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns heading into the FCS Championship game.
Bruce Anderson put in WORK against Sam Houston St pic.twitter.com/D0qoopQJzw
— HERO Sports FCS (@HEROSportsFCS) January 1, 2018
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