ALBANY, N.Y. – Stats Perform has announced 30 finalists for the 2023 Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the national defensive player of the year in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and presented by FedEx Ground. University at Albany linebacker Dylan Kelly and defensive lineman Anton Juncaj have officially been named finalists for the prestigious award.
The Buchanan Award, first presented in 1995 and in its 29th season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. Past recipients include Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
Kelly finished the regular season with 145 total tackles, second in all of the FCS. He recorded 23 stops in an Oct. 7 matchup at Towson, a career-best and more in a single-game than any other player in the FCS this season. The senior linebacker added three sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. He registered eight TFLs for 31 yards.
Anton Juncaj set the UAlbany single-game sack record in the first game of the season, recording four against Fordham in Week 0 to kick off 2023. He finished the year second in the FCS in total sacks with 13.0, 2.5 more than teammate AJ Simon, who finished second in the CAA. The next closest player in the conference finished with just 9.5, 3.5 off of Juncaj’s pace. The senior from Port Jervis collected 18.5 TFLs, 49 total tackles, eight quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and two pass breakups.
The Great Danes finished the 2023 regular season with an overall record of 9-3, going 9-1 against FCS level opponents. The UAlbany defense was the best in the CAA, allowing just 17.2 points per game, and the run defense topped the FCS allowing just 79.1 rushing yards on average.
All 13 FCS…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University at Albany Great Danes…