Vermillion South Dakota — South Dakota junior defensive end Darin Greenfield is one of 25 players on the ballot for the Buck Buchanan Award which recognizes the top defensive player in the FCS.
The former Sheldon Orab is on the ballot for the first time and was on the watch list for the award all season following a 2017 campaign in which he earned first-team all-Valley honors and was named to four All-America teams.
This season, he finished second in the Valley with 14.5 tackles-for-loss including a team-high 6.0 sacks. He led South Dakota linemen with 58 tackles, which ranked fifth on the team. He also forced two turnovers and had one fumble recovery.
Greenfield is the second Coyote to appear on the ballot and first since 2013 when linebacker Tyler Starr a former Central Lyon George Little Rock player finished ninth in the voting. Greenfield is one of four players from the MVFC on this year’s ballot.
Others include senior defensive tackle Khalen Saunders of Western Illinois, senior safety Robbie Grimsley of North Dakota State and sophomore linebacker Jabril Cox from North Dakota State.
A national panel of more than 150 sports information directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the winners. Voting is based on performance during the regular season. The top three vote getters will be invited to the STATS FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation, scheduled for January 4th in Frisco, Texas, on the eve of the national championship game.
The 25 Buck Buchanan Award FCS Defensive Player of the Year Finalists:
Nasir Adderley, S, Sr. – Delaware
B.J. Blunt, LB, Sr. – McNeese
De’Arius Christmas, LB, Sr. – Grambling State
Thomas Costigan, LB, Sr. – Bryant
Jabril Cox, LB, So. – North Dakota State
Cam Gill, LB, Jr. – Wagner
Ahmad Gooden, DE, Sr. – Samford
Anthony Gore Jr., LB, Sr. – Kennesaw State
Darin Greenfield, DE, Jr. – South Dakota
Robbie Grimsley, S, Sr. – North Dakota State
Zach Hall, LB, Jr. – Southeast Missouri
Darryl Johnson Jr., DE, Jr. – North Carolina A&T
Isaiah Mack, DT, Sr. – Chattanooga, DT
Nick Miller, LB, Sr. – Penn
Mason Moe, LB, Sr. – UC Davis
Jimmy Moreland, CB, Sr. – James Madison
Dante Olson, LB, Jr. – Montana
Nasir Player, DL, Jr. – ETSU
Troy Reeder, LB, Sr. – Delaware
Derick Roberson, LB, Sr. – Sam Houston State
Khalen Saunders, DT, Sr. – Western Illinois
Sterling Sheffield, LB, Sr. – Maine
Isiah Swann, CB, Jr. – Dartmouth
Will Warner, S, Jr. – Drake
Nick Wheeler, LB, Jr. – Colgate
